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THE 


LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS 


FELIX  DAHN 

Author  of  “Attila  the  Hun,”  “A  Struggle  for  Rome,” 
etc,,  etc. 


Copyright , 1891,  by  The  Minerva  Publishing  Company 


NEW  YORK 

THE  MINERVA  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
48  University  Place 
I?9i 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


I. 

TO  CORNELIUS  CETHEGUS  OESARIUS  FROM  A 
FRIEND. 

To  you,  rather  than  to  any  other  man  living,  I 
send  what  I have  here  written  down.  Shall  I tell 
you  why  ? 

Frankly,  in  the  first  place,  because  I do  not 
know  just  where  these  lines  will  find  you,  and  it 
is  probable,  therefore,  that  they  will  be  lost  in  the 
sending.  Perhaps  that  might  be  the  best  thing 
that  could  happen,  both  for  those  who  would  be 
spared  the  trouble  of  reading  them,  and  for  my- 
self, their  author. 

If  they  are  destined  to  go  ‘astray,  it  is  at  least 
better  that  they  should  be  lost  somewhere  else 
than  at  Byzantium.  For  should  they  fall  here 
into  certain  little  hands,  whose  dainty  beauty  is 
preserved  with  exquisite  care,  those  same  little 


4 the  last  of  the  VANDALS . 

hands  might  make  a graceful  motion  that  would 
cost  me  my  head  or  some  other  object  to  which 
habit  has  led  me  to  attach  especial  value.  If, 
however,  I despatch  these  truthful  observations 
and  comments  to  the  West,  they  cannot  so  readily 
come  into  the  clutches  of  the  dangerous  fingers 
which  manage  to  lay  hold  of  every  hidden  thing 
in  this  great  metropolis. 

Although  I have  no  means  of  ascertaining 
whether  you  are  residing  in  your  house  near  the 
Capitol,  or  whether  you  are  in  the  service  of  the 
queen-regent  at  Ravenna,  I have  directed  my 
packet  to  Rome,  for  it  is  towards  Rome  that  my 
thoughts  fly,  seeking  out  Cethegus. 

Do  you  ask,  with  your  old  sarcastic  smile,  why 
I write  down  things  which  are  so  dangerous  ? 

Well,  then,  because  I must.  Induced  by  fear, 
I keep  praising  so  many  men  and  so  many  meas- 
ures that  in  my  heart  I detest,  that  reproachful 
conscience  compels  me,  at  least  in  secret,  to  make 
an  avowal  of  the  truth. 

You  think,  perhaps,  that,  as  a vent  to  one’s  in- 
dignation, one  might  record  these  matters  in  their 
true  light,  and  then  fling  the  pages  into  the  sea. 
But — and  this  is  the  second  reason  why  I send 
them  to  you — I am  not  without  vanity. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 


5 


I want  the  cleverest  man  of  my  acquaintance 
to  read  and  commend  what  I write,  and  to  know 
that  I am  not  so  silly  as  to  consider  worthy  of 
admiration  all  that  I publicly  praise.  I may  also 
wish  to  use  these  notes  hereafter,  when  I set  forth 
the  true  history  of  the  remarkable  events  which  I 
have  witnessed,  and  those  which  I am  soon  likely 
to  witness.  Keep  these  pages,  therefore,  if  they 
reach  you  ; they  form  not  so  much  letters  as  a 
sort  of  chronicle. 

I expect  no  written  answer.  Perhaps,  however, 
I shall  hear  your  opinion  from  your  own  lips. 
We  have  pot  seen  each  other  since  our  school 
days  at  Athens.  But  it  may  be  that  before  long 
I shall  seek  you  out  in  your  native  Italy.  For  I 
cannot  help  thinking  it  is  only  the  prelude  to  the 
struggle  with  your  rulers,  the  Ostrogoths— this 
war  that  has  been  determined  upon,  this  very  day, 
against  the  Vandals. 

There,  it  is  out,  the  great  and  fateful  secret ! 
It  is  a strange  thing  to  see  written  down  distinctly 
before  one  a fearful  decree  of  fate,  pregnant  with 
blood  and  misery,  an  impending  catastrophe 
which  its  victims  do  not  yet  dream  of.  At  such 
times  the  statesman  may  justly  feel  himself  akin 
to  the  god  who  forges  the  thunderbolt  destined 


6 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

to  fall  upon  a thoughtless  and  light-hearted  peo- 
ple. 

Feeble,  mortal  god  ! Will  thy  bolt  strike  or 
will  it  rebound  and  bring  ruin  upon  thyself? 

The  demi-god  Justinian  and  the  full-blooded 
goddess  Theodora  have  fashioned  this  lightning. 
The  hero  Belisarius  is  to  bear  it  to  Africa.  War 
with  the  Vandals! 

Thus  much,  Cethegus,  you  now  know,  but  not 
yet  all — at  least  not  all  about  the  Vandals. 

The  Vandals  are  the  cousins  of  your  esteemed 
masters  the  Ostrogoths.  A hundred  years  ago 
they  migrated — men,  women,  and  children,  to 
the  number  of  fifty  thousand — from  Spain  to 
Africa.  A terrible  king,  Geiseric,  the  fitting  ally 
of  the  Hun  Attila,  was  at  their  head.  He 
overthrew  the  Romans  in  many  battles,  cap- 
tured Carthage,  and  plundered  Rome.  He  was 
never  defeated.  His  crown  became  hereditary  in 
his  family,  the  Asdings,  who  are  supposed  to  have 
sprung  from  the  old  heathen  gods  of  the  Ger- 
mans, the  eldest  survivor  of  the  male  line  always 
succeeding  to  the  throne. 

But  Geiseric’s  descendants,  while  inheriting  his 
sceptre,  have  not  inherited  his  greatness. 

The  Catholics  in  their  kingdom — the  Vandals 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


7 


themselves  are  heretics,  Arians — have  been  perse- 
cuted with  barbarous  cruelty.  This  policy  has 
been  more  foolish  than  unjust.  Indeed,  it  can 
hardly  be  termed  unjust  at  all;  for  the  Vandals 
simply  turned  against  the  Catholics,  the  Romans, 
the  very  laws  which  the  Roman  emperor,  in  his 
dominions,  had  devised  and  employed  against  the 
Arians.  But  it  certainly  was  very  foolish.  The 
few  Arians  in  our  territories  can  accomplish  noth- 
ing against  us.  But  in  Africa  the  Catholics  are 
so  numerous  that  they  could  themselves  almost 
overturn  the  Vandal  kingdom,  if  theyshould  make 
the  attempt.  And  to  induce  them  to  make  it  is 
the  object  of  our  proposed  expedition. 

Will  we  conquer?  We  have  much  in  our 
favor.  King  Hilderic  lived  for  a long  time  in 
Byzantium,  and  is  said  to  have  become  privately 
a convert  to  the  Catholic  faith.  This  descendant 
of  Geiseric  has  no  liking  for  war ; besides,  he  is  a 
friend  to  Justinian.  Then,  too,  Hilderic  struck  a 
terrible  blow  at  the  stability  of  his  kingdom  when 
he  transformed  its  strongest  support,  the  friend- 
ship of  the  Ostrogoths  in  Italy,  into  deadliest 
enmity.  The  shrewd  old  Ostrogoth  Theodoric, 
at  Ravenna,  formed  a close  alliance  with  the 
Vandal  King  Thrasamund,  Hilderic’s  predecessor 


8 THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 

on  the  throne,  giving  him  his  beautiful  and 
talented  sister  Amalafrida  in  marriage,  and  add- 
ing to  the  treasures  of  her  dowry  the  promontory 
of  Lilybseum  in  Sicily.  The  possession  of  this 
place,  which,  as  you  know,  lies  directly  opposite 
to  Carthage,  was  a most  valuable  acquisition  for 
the  Vandal  kingdom.  As  an  aid  against  the 
Moors — and  perhaps,  too,  against  us — Theodoric 
sent  also  a thousand  picked  Gothic  warriors, 
each  of  whom  took  with  him  five  stout  men-at- 
arms  as  a following.  Scarcely  had  Hilderic  be- 
come king  when  the  widow  Amalafrida  was 
accused  of  treason  and  threatened  with  death. 

Now  if  this  treason  was  not  a thing  devised  by 
Justinian  and  Theodora,  I sadly  misjudge  my  wor- 
shipful masters.  I saw  the  smile  with  which  they 
greeted  the  news  from  Carthage.  It  was  the 
triumph  of  the  bird-catcher  who  has  sprung  his 
trap  upon  the  unsuspecting  bird. 

Amalafrida’s  Goths  succeeded  in  setting  her 
free,  and  accompanied  her  flight  when  she  en- 
deavored to  seek  protection  among  the  Moors. 
But  on  the  way  they  were  overtaken  by  a largely 
superior  force  of  Vandals  under  the  two  nephews 
of  the  king.  The  faithful  Goths  fought  until 
they  fell,  man  by  man,  almost  the  whole  six  thou- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


9 


Sand.  The  queen  herself  was  recaptured  and 
murdered  in  prison.  Since  then  bitter  hatred 
has  existed  between  the  two  nations.  The  Goths 
took  back  Lilybaeum,  and  from  its  lofty  head- 
lands cast  revengeful  glances  towards  offending 
Carthage.  This  is  the  only  important  act  of 
regal  authority  that  has  marked  King  Hilderic’s 
reign.  Since  then  he  has  recognized  the  fact  that 
it  would  be  better  for  his  people  to  accept  our 
protection.  But  he  is  growing  old,  and  his 
cousin  Gelimer  — unfortunately  the  legitimate 
heir  to  his  throne — is  our  most  bitter  enemy. 

It  would  never  do  for  him  to  become  king  at 
Carthage.  He  is  the  shield  and  hero,  aye,  the 
soul  of  the  Vandal  power.  It  was  he  who  finally 
subdued  those  wild  sons  of  the  desert,  the  Moors, 
after  they  had  repeatedly  proved  themselves  an 
overmatch  for  the  feeble  successors  of  Geiseric. 
With  regard  to  this  Gelimer — it  is  not  possible 
from  the  conflicting  reports  we  receive  to  gauge 
the  man  with  any  accuracy.  Can  a German 
really  present  such  contradictory  traits  in  his  life 
and  character  ? What  are  the  men  of  that  race, 
with  all  their  six  or  seven  foot  stature,  but  boys 
— giants  with  the  souls  of  children  ? What  other 


10 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


aim  in  life  have  they  except  fighting  and  drink- 
ing? But  this  Gelimer— well,  we  shall  see. 

As  to  the  Vandal  people  themselves*  there  are 
in  circulation  here  two  diametrically  different 
estimates. 

According  to  the  one,  they  are  fearful  adversa- 
ries in  battle,  as  Geiseric’s  Vandals  unquestion- 
ably were. 

Other  accounts  state  that  in  the  course  of  three 
generations  under  the  hot  African  sun  they  have 
become  effeminate  and  degenerated, — a result 
which  has  been  helped  forward  not  a little  by 
their  association  with  our  own  provincials  there ; 
for  these  are,  as  you  doubtless  know,  the  most 
disreputable  and  corrupt  rabble  that  ever  dis- 
graced the  Roman  name. 

Our  Belisarius  naturally  looks  with  contempt 
upon  this  enemy,  as  he  does  upon  all  others  with 
whom  he  is  acquainted  and — unacquainted. 

The  imperial  gods  have  entrusted  to  me  the 
secret  correspondence  which  shall  secure  in  ad- 
vance a successful  issue. 

Even  now  I am  awaiting  important  news  from 
many  chieftains  of  the  Moors;  from  the  Vandal 
governor  of  Sardinia  ; from  your  Ostrogoth  rulers 
in  Sicily ; from  the  richest  and  most  influential 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


II 


Senator  in  Tripolis — yes,  difficult  as  it  may  be  to 
believe  it,  from  one  of  the  highest  functionaries 
of  the  heretic  church  itself. 

This  last  will  be  a master-stroke.  True,  he 
is  not  a Vandal,  but  a Roman ; but  all  the  same, 
an  Arian  priest  in  alliance  with  us  ! 

For  this,  however,  I am  inclined  to  concede  the 
credit  to  our  sovereigns.  You  know  how  bluntly 
I refuse  to  acknowledge  their  superiority  in  the 
internal  regulation  of  our  empire  ; but  when  it 
comes  to  the  highest  “ statesmanship,”  that  is,  to 
win  over  traitors  in  the  confidential  councils  of 
other  monarchs  and  to  outwit  in  subtlety  the 
craftiest,  then  I bend  my  knee  in  wondering 
admiration  before  these  two  divinities  of  cun- 
ning. If  only — 

A note  from  Belisarius  summons  me  to  the 
palace : 

“ Bad  news  from  Africa . The  war  is  again 
very  doubtful . The  apparent  traitors  there  have 
betrayed,  not  the  Vandals,  but  Justinian . This 
comes  from  such  deceitful  artifices . Help,  advise 
us ! Belisarius.” 

How?  I thought  that  the  secret  letters  from 
Africa  were  to  come,  by  the  hands  of  disguised 
messengers,  to  me  alone,  and  then  through  me  to 
the  emperor.  That  was  his  express  command — 
I read  it  myself.  And  now  there  are  still  more 


12 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


secret  despatches,  of  which  I learn  only  by  acci- 
dent, and  not  until  after  they  have  been  re- 
ceived. 

This  is  your  work,  O Demonodora ! 


II. 

The  Carthage  of  the  Vandals  was  still  a proud 
and  splendid  city,  still  the  brilliant  “ Colonia 
Julia  Carthago”  which  Augustus  had  built,  in 
accordance  with  the  plan  of  the  great  Caesar,  on 
the  spot  where  stood  the  ruins  of  the  ancient 
city  destroyed  by  Scipio. 

True,  it  was  not,  as  it  had  been  a century  ear- 
lier, after  Rome  and  Byzantium  the  most  popu- 
lous city  of  the  empire.  But  in  its  buildings  and 
its  outward  appearance  generally  it  had  suffered 
but  little;  only  the  walls  with  which  it  had  been 
fortified  against  Geiseric  had  been  broken  down  in 
many  places  by  the  assaults  of  the  Vandals,  and 
had  not  been  fully  restored — a sign,  either  of 
arrogant  security  or  of  neglectful  indolence. 

The  old  citadel,  the  Phoenician  Byrsa,  now 
called  the  Capitol,  still  looked  down  upon  the  blue 
Mediterranean  and  the  harbor,  doubly  fortified 
by  towers  and  iron  chains. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VAXDALS. 


13 


In  the  open  squares  and  in  the  broad  streets  of 
the  upper  city  stirred  and  lounged  a multitude  o^ 
idle  people.  They  occupied  the  steps  of  the 
Christian  churches,  most  of  which  had  been  trans- 
formed from  heathen  temples;  they  thronged  about 
the  amphitheatre  and  the  porticos  of  the  baths, 
with  their  garden-like  grounds  adorned  with  beds 
of  flowers  and  groups  of  palms,  kept  fresh  and 
green  by  water  conveyed  from  a distance  on  the 
lofty  arches  supporting  an  aqueduct.  The  lower 
city,  situated  in  the  vicinity  of  the  sea,  was  in- 
habited chiefly  by  the  poorer  class  of  citi- 
zens, many  of  them  laborers  about  the  port.  It 
was  filled  with  warehouses  and  stores  for  supply- 
ing the  wants  of  ships  and  sailors,  and  was  trav- 
ersed by  narrow  streets,  running  from  south  to 
north,  from  the  upper  city  to  the  harbor. 

The  most  extensive  open  space  in  the  lower 
city  was  the  Forum  of  St.  Cyprian,  where  stood  a 
magnificent  church,  dedicated  to  this  greatest  of 
the  saints  of  Africa. 

The  church  filled  the  entire  southern  side  of  the 
square.  On  the  northern  side  a flight  of  marble 
steps  led  down  to  the  harbor,  where  still  rise  the  im- 
posing ruins  of  the  old  sea-gate.  Towards  the  west 
ran  a broad  street  to  the  suburb  Atlas  and  the 
J^umidian  gate,  while  on  the  southeast  a tolerably 


14 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


steep  road  ascended  to  the  upper  city  and  the 
Capitol. 

On  a warm  afternoon  in  June,  in  the  year  A.D. 
534,  a throng  of  people  were  streaming  into  the 
great  square  before  the  church  from  the  direction 
of  the  west  gate.  There  were  Romans  and  pro- 
vincials, Carthaginian  citizens  of  the  middle  and 
poorer  classes,  mechanics  and  shopkeepers,  freed- 
men  and  slaves,  whom  idleness  permitted  or 
curiosity  impelled  to  witness  a spectacle  of  more 
than  ordinary  interest.  There  were  also  Vandals 
among  the  number,  men,  women,  and  children, 
who  in  appearanee  formed  a sharp  contrast  to  the 
people  of  the  other  nationalities  by  their  red  or 
light-colored  hair  and  by  the  whiteness  of  their 
complexion,  although  this  in  some  cases  had  been 
bronzed  by  the  African  sun.  In  dress,  however, 
there  was  little  difference  observable  between 
them  and  the  Romans.  Among  the  lower  classes 
there  were  also  some  of  mixed  blood,  mostly 
those  whose  fathers  had  been  Vandals  and  their 
mothers  Carthaginians.  Here  and  there,  too, 
might  be  seen  a Moor,  who  had  come  from  the 
verge  of  the  desert  to  dispose  of  ivory,  ostrich- 
feathers,  antelope-horns,  and  the  skins  of  lions 
and  tigers. 

Among  the  noisy  and  rejoicing  crowd  not  a 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  15 

Roman  of  the  better  class  was  to  be  seen.  A 
Catholic  priest,  who  on  his  way  to  a dying  man 
had  not  been  able  to  avoid  this  square,  slipped 
timidly  into  the  first  side  street  he  reached,  fear, 
displeasure,  and  abhorrence  all  portrayed  on  his 
pale  countenance. 

For  the  clamorous  crowd  were  celebrating  a 
victory  of  the  Vandals. 

In  front  of  the  returning  troops  marched  a 
dense  mass  of  the  Carthaginian  populace,  utter- 
ing loud  shouts,  and  from  time  to  time  halting  to 
look  back  ; others  thrust  themselves  forward,  beg- 
ging and  seeking  gifts  from  the  Vandal  soldiers. 
They  were  all  mounted,  and,  for  the  most  part, 
on  remarkably  fine  horses,  obtained  by  crossing 
the  highly-prized  stock  which  they  had  brought 
from  Spain  with  the  existing  native  breed. 

The  afternoon  sunshine  came  streaming  through 
the  wide-open  western  gate  and  was  dazzlingly 
reflected  from  the  white  sand  of  the  “ Numidian 
Way”  and  the  white  houses  that  lined  its  course. 
In  such  a light  the  approaching  squadrons  could 
not  fail  to  present  a brilliant  appearance.  For 
rich,  rich  to  excess,  was  the  display  of  gold  and 
silver  on  their  helmets  and  shields,  on  their 
breastplates,  on  the  broad  circlets  they  wore  on 


1 6 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

their  bare  arms,  on  their  scabbards  and  sword- 
handles,  on  the  fastenings  which  bound  together 
spear-point  and  shaft,  and  in  inlaid  work  even  on 
the  spear-shafts  themselves. 

In  the  trappings  of  the  horses,  as  well  as  in 
the  dress  and  decorations  of  the  riders,  the  most 
glaring  colors  were  everywhere  the  most  favored. 
Scarlet,  the  national  color  of  the  Vandals,  pre- 
dominated. It  shone  in  all  its  brightness  from 
the  long,  fluttering  mantles  of  the  troopers;  from 
the  broad  pieces  of  silk,  which  fell  down  behind 
from  their  helmets  upon  the  neck  and  shoulders, 
as  a protection  against  the  sun  of  the  desert;  from 
the  richly  painted,  gilded  quivers,  and  from  the 
saddles  and  bridles  of  the  horses.  Among  the 
skins  which  the  beasts  of  the  African  solitudes 
afforded  in  rich  variety,  preference  was  given  to 
those  of  the  antelope,  the  spotted  leopard,  and 
the  striped  tiger,  while  above  the  helmets  of  the 
•riders  nodded  and  waved  the  bright  red  feathers 
of  the  flamingo  or  the  white  plumage  of  the 
ostrich. 

The  close  of  the  procession  was  formed  by 
some  captured  camels,  laden  with  weapons  taken 
in  war.  Beside  these  came  on  foot  about  a hun- 
dred Moorish  prisoners,  both  men  and  women,  their 


*7 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

hands  bound  behind  their  backs.  They  were  clad 
in  mantles  with  brown  and  white  stripes,  but  their 
heads  and  feet  were  bare.  Like  the  camels,  they 
were  driven  along  by  their  guards  by  blows  and 
thrusts  with  the  shafts  of  their  spears. 

Upon  the  steps  of  the  basilica  and  upon  the 
wall  that  surrounded  the  steps  leading  to  the  har- 
bor the  pageant-loving  populace  had  seized  upon 
every  available  foot  of  room,  for  from  these  elevat- 
ed positions  they  could  best  look  upon  the  brill- 
iant procession  without  danger  from  the  spirited 
horses. 

“ Who  is  the  young  man  yonder,  the  one  with 
the  fair  complexion,  friend  Eugenes ?”  asked  a 
man  in  the  prime  of  life,  pointing  over  the  para- 
pet behind  which  he  stood.  The  speaker  from 
his  dress  and  appearance  was  evidently  a sailor, 
and  his  question  was  addressed  to  a gray-haired 
man  at  his  side. 

“ Which  one  do  you  mean,  friend  Hegelochos? 
Almost  all  of  them  have  a fair  complexion.” 

“ Is  that  a fact  ? Well,  it  is  the  first  time  I have 
ever  been  among  the  Vandals.  Our  ship  came  to 
anchor  only  a few  hours  ago.  So  you  will  have  to 
point  out  and  explain  to  me  whatever  there  is  to 
be  seen.  I mean  the  one  yonder  on  the  white 


1 8 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VAN£>ALS. 

horse- — the  one  who  carries  the  small  red  banner 
with  the  golden  dragon.” 

a Oh,  that  is  Gibamund,  * the  handsomest  of  the 
Vandals,’  as  the  women  call  him.  See  how  he 
fixes  his  gaze  on  the  arched  windows  of  the  royal 
palace  up  there  on  the  Capitol ! Among  the  many 
faces  which  look  down  from  yonder  palace,  there 
is  only  one  he  seeks.” 

“ But  ” — and  the  speaker  started  in  surprise— 
“ who  is  that  at  his  right — the  one  on  the  cream- 
colored  horse?  I was  actually  startled  when  his 
eye  fell  upon  me.  He  looks  like  the  young  man, 
except  that  he  is  much  older.” 

“ That  is  his  brother,  that  is  Gelimer.  God 
bless  him !” 

“ Oh,  here,  then,  is  the  hero  of  the  day  ? I 
have  often  heard  of  him  in  Syracuse.  He,  I sup- 
pose, is  the  conqueror  of  the  Moors?” 

“ Yes,  he  has  beaten  them  again,  the  trouble- 
some rascals,  as  he  has  often  done  before.  Do 
you  hear  the  Carthaginians  cheer  him?  We  citi- 
zens also  have  to  thank  him  because  he  drives 
yonder  robbers  back  to  their  desert,  away  from 
our  villas  and  fields.” 

“ He  is,  I should  say,  about  fifty  years  old.  His 
hair  is  quite  gray.” 


19 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ He  is  not  yet  forty.” 

“ Look,  Eugenes ! He  has  sprung  from  his 
horse.  What  is  he  doing?” 

“ Did  you  not  see  ? A child,  a Roman  boy,  who 
attempted  to  run  across  before  his  horse,  fell. 
Gelimer  has  picked  him  up  and  holds  the  boy  in 
his  arms.” 

“ He  is  looking  whether  the  child  is  injured.” 
“ It  is  not  hurt.  It  smiles  at  him  and  tries  to 
grasp  the  golden  chain  around  his  neck.” 

“ He  has  taken  off  the  chain  and  placed  it  in 
the  little  one’s  hands.  And  now  he  kisses  him — 
he  puts  him  back  into  his  mother’s  arms.” 

“ Hark,  how  the  people  shout!  Now  he  has 
sprung  again  into  the  saddle.” 

“ He  evidently  understands  how  to  gain  popu- 
larity.” 

“ You  do  him  injustice.  He  follows  the  dictates 
of  his  own  heart.  He  would  have  acted  just  the 
same,  had  there  been  no  one  to  observe  him. 
Besides,  he  does  not  need  to  court  the  favor  of  the 
people  ; he  has  long  possessed  it.” 

“ Among  the  Vandals  !” 

“ Yes,  and  among  the  Romans;  that  is,  among 
us  of  the  middle  and  poorer  classes.  The  sena- 
tors, indeed,  so  far  as  any*  of  them  still  live  in 


20  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

Africa,  hate  all  that  bears  the  name  of  Vandal; 
and  they  have  good  grounds  for  it  too.  But  Gel- 
imer  has  a heart  that  feels  for  us  ; he  helps  us 
where  he  can,  and  often  holds  in  check  the  nobles 
of  his  race,  who  are  almost  without  exception  ar- 
rogant, wanton,  and  terrible  in  the  fury  of  their 
rage.  Before  all  others  I have  reason  to  thank 
him,  to  thank  him  with  my  whole  heart.” 

“You?  Why?” 

“You  remember  my  daughter,  Eugenia,  whom 
you  saw  before  we  left  the  house  ?” 

“ Certainly.  Into  what  a lovely,  graceful  maid- 
en the  delicate  child  that  you  brought  with  you 
has  grown  !” 

“ I owe  to  Gelimer  her  life,  her  honor.  Thra- 
saric,  the  giant,  the  most  unruly  of  all  these  nobles, 
seized  her  as  she  was  walking  beside  me,  here  upon 
the  open  street,  in  broad  daylight,  and  with  an 
insolent  laugh  bore  away  the  screaming  girl  in  his 
arms.  I could  not  follow , as  quickly  as  he  ran, 
when  fortunately  Gelimer  came  up,  attracted  by 
our  cries,  and  when  the  savage  refused  to  give  up 
his  prey,  struck  the  giant  down  with  a blow  of 
his  fist  and  gave*  me  back  my  terrified  child.” 

“ And  the  abductor  ?” 

“ He  got  up,  shook  himself,  laughed,  and  said  to 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


21 


Gelimer:  ‘You  have  done  right,  Asding.  And 
your  fist  gives  a stout  blow/  And  since  then — ” 

“Well?  You  hesitate/' 

“Yes,  just  think  of  it:  since  then  the  Vandal, 
who  could  not  win  her  by  force,  has  become  a 
modest  suitor  for  my  daughter’s  hand ! The  rich- 
est noble  among  his  people  wishes  to  be  my  son- 
in-law.” 

“ Well,  now,  that  would  not  be  a bad  provision 
for  her.” 

“ Princess  Hilda,  the  noble  patroness  of  my 
child,  who  often  invites  her  to  the  Capitol  and 
richly  rewards  the  little  one  for  her  tasteful  em- 
broidery— ‘Princess  Hilda  speaks  in  his  behalf. 
But  I — I hesitate ; at  least  I will  not  use  my  au- 
thority over  my  child,  and  Eugenia — ” 

“ What  does  the  little  one  say  ?” 

“ Well,  the  barbarian  is  as  handsome  as  a pict- 
ure. I almost  believe — I fear — he  pleases  her.  But 
something  holds  her  back.  Who  is  it  can  read  a 
woman’s  heart  ? But  see ! the  leaders  of  the 
troops,  among  them  Gelimer,  are  dismounting  in 
front  of  the  basilica.” 

“ Strange  ! He  is  the  one  who  is  honored.  His 
name  resounds  over  the  whole  broad  place : and 


22 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


yet  he  looks  so  solemn,  one  might  almost  say,  so 
mournful.” 

“ Yes,  at  present.  But  you  saw  the  kindly  look 
on  his  countenance  when  he  comforted  the  fright- 
ened child.” 

“ Of  course  I saw  it.  And  now — ” 

“ Yes,  there  is  something  that  weighs  upon  him. 
It  comes  over  him  suddenly,  like  a dark  cloud. 
Among  the  people  there  are  all  sorts  of  rumors. 
He  has  a demon  in  him,  say  some;  his  mind  is  at 
times  unbalanced,  is  the  opinion  of  others ; while 
our  priests  hint  that  he  suffers  from  the  torments 
of  conscience  on  account  of  secret  crimes.  But 
that  I will  never  believe  about  Gelimer.” 

“ Was  he  always  so  ?” 

“ It  has  been  more  marked  for  the  last  two  or 
three  years.  Satan — may  the  holy  St.  Cyprian 
protect  us  ! — is  said  to  have  appeared  to  him  in 
the  solitude  of  the  desert.  Since  then  he  has  be- 
come more  devout  than  before.  Look  ! His  most 
intimate  friend  is  greeting  him  at  the  church.” 

“ The  priest  yonder?  He  is  an  Arian.  I know 
.it  by  the  style  of  his  tonsure.” 

“Aye,”  replied  the  Carthaginian,  angrily.  “ Verus 
is  the  arch-deacon.  Accursed  traitor !”  And  he 
clinched  both  his  fists. 


The  last  of  the  vandals.  23 

“ Traitor!  Why?" 

“ Apostate  at  least,  if  not  traitor.  He  descends 
from  an  old  Roman  senatorial  family,  which  gave 
many  a bishop  to  the  church.  His  great-uncle 
was  Bishop  Laetus,  who  met  a martyr’s  death.  His 
father,  his  mother,  his  brothers  and  sisters,  iil  the 
reign  of  a former  king  all  died  by  the  most  featful 
tortures  rather  than  renounce  the  holy  Catholic 
faith.  This  one,  too, — he  was  at  the  time  about 
twenty  years  old, — was  stretched  on  the  rack  until 
he  was  nearly  dead.  When  he  came  to  his  senses 
again  he  abjured  the  true  faith,  became  an  Arian, 
a priest — the  wretch  ! — in  order  to  save  his  life. 
And  soon — for  Satan  has  endowed  him  with  great 
gifts — he  rose  from  step  to  step,  became  the  favor- 
ite of  the  Asdings  and  the  court,  and  all  at  once 
the  friend  of  the  noble  Gelimer,  who  for  a long 
time  had  treated  him  with  coldness  and  contempt. 
And  they  gave  him  this  church,  our  holiest  sanc- 
tuary, consecrated  to  the  great  St.  Cyprian.  For 
the  heretics  took  it  from  us,  as  they  did  almost  all 
our  churches  in  Carthage.” 

“ But  what  are  they  doing  there?  Gelimer  is 
kneeling  down  on  the  topmost  step  of  the  church. 
He  has  taken  off  his  helmet.” 


24  the  last  of  The  VANDALS. 

“ He  is  strewing  the  dust  of  the  marble  steA 
upon  his  head.” 

“ What  was  that  he  kissed  ? The  priest's  hand  ?” 
“ No  ; the  box  containing  the  ashes  of  the  great 
protecting  saint.  He  is  very  pious  and  very 
self-abasing.  He  shuts  himself  up  for  days  at  a 
time  with  the  monks  who  are  doing  penance,  in 
order  to  mortify  the  flesh.” 

“A  peculiar  hero  for  a barbarian  race!” 

“ The  hero’s  blood  shows  itself  fast  enough  in 
the  heat  of  battle.  There,  he  is  rising.  Do  you 
see  how  his  helmet  is  hacked  by  recent  blows  ? 
And  one  of  the  black  vulture’s  wings  on  its  crest 
is  actually  cut  through. — But  the  strangest  thing 
about  this  warrior  is  his  interest  in  manuscripts ; 
he  delves  deep  in  mystic  lore ; he  has  listened  to 
the  philosophers  at  Athens.  He  is  a theologian 
and—” 

“ A performer  on  the  lyre  besides,  it  appears.” 

“ That  is  a harp,  as  they  term  it.” 

“Listen  : he  strikes  the  strings.  He  is  singing; 
I cannot  understand  the  words.” 

“They  are  in  the  Vandal  tongue.” 

“ He  has  finished.  How  his  followers  applaud! 
They  clash  their  spears  on  their  shields.  Now  he 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  25 

is  descending  the  steps  again.  How?  Without 
going  into  the  church,  as  the  others  did?” 

“ Oh  yes,  I remember.  He  is  bound  by  a vow 
not  to  cross  the  threshold  of  the  saints  for  three 
days  after  he  has  shed  blood.  Now  the  horsemen 
have  all  mounted  again.” 

“ But  where  are  the  foot-soldiers  ?” 

“ They  have  none, — or  at  least  very  few.  They 
have  become  not  only  so  proud,  but  also  so  lazy 
and  effeminate,  that  they  despise  service  on  foot. 
Only  the  very  poorest,  the  very  lowest  in  station, 
can  be  induced  to  undertake  it^  The  mass  of 
their  infantry  consists  of  Moorish  mercenaries, 
enlisted  for  each  campaign  among  the  friendly 
Moorish  tribes.” 

“Yes,  yes.  In  fact  I see  some  Moors  over 
there  among  the  soldiers.” 

“ They  are  men  from  the  Papuan  mountains. 
Gelimer  gained  them  over.  For  a long  time  they 
had  been  plundering  our  borders,  when  Gelimer 
fell  upon  their  camp  and  captured  the  three 
daughters  of  their  chief,  Antallas.  They  were 
sent  back  without  ransom.  Then  Antallas  invited 
the  Asding  to  his  tent  to  thank  him,  and  there 
they  became  bound  to  each  other  by  the  guest- 
rite,  the  most  sacred  bond  among  the  Moors, 


26 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 


Since  then  they  have  rendered  Gelimer  faithful 
service,  even  against  other  Moors.  But  the  pro- 
cession  is  now  at  an  end,  the  ranks  are  breaking. 
The  leaders  are  going  to  the  Capitol  to  make  their 
report  to  King  Hilderic  and  to  deliver  over  the 
booty.  See,  the  people  are  dispersing.  Let  us 
go,  too.  Return  with  me  to  my  house.  We  shall 
find  Eugenia  has  our  supper  waiting  for  us.  Come 
along,  Hegelochos.,, 

* I follow  you,  most  hospitable  of  hosts.  I 
shall  be  a burden  upon  you  for  some  time,  I fear. 
My  business  with  the  grain-merchants  cannot  be 
hurried.” 

“ Why  are  you  waiting?  At  what  are  you  look- 
ing back?” 

“ I’m  coming.  I wanted  to  take  just  one  more 
look  at  the  face  of  this  Gelimer.  I can’t  help 
thinking  of  him  and  his  striking  countenance,  es- 
pecially after  the  strange  account  you  have  given 
of  him.” 

“ It  is  just  so  with  most  people.  He  is  a riddle, 
incomprehensible,  governed  by  a familiar  spirit, 
as  the  Greeks  say.  But  let  us  go.  This  way ! To 
the  left — down  the  steps.” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


2; 


III. 

High  above  on  the  Capitol  stood  the  royal  pal- 
ace of  the  Asdings.  It  was  not  a single  structure, 
but  a group  of  buildings. 

Originally  laid  out  as  an  acropolis,  a fortress  for 
the  domination  of  the  lower  city  and  for  afford- 
ing an  outlook  across  both  harbors  to  the  sea  be- 
yond, the  place  had  been  but  little  changed  by 
Geiseric  and  his  successors.  The  palace  was  in- 
tended to  remain  a stronghold  and  to  keep  the 
Carthaginians  in  subjection. 

A narrow  road  led  up  from  the  port  and  termi- 
nated at  a gate  in  the  wall  of  the  fortress. 
Through  this  gate  a passage  was  afforded  into  a 
quadrangular  enclosure  surrounded  on  all  sides  by 
the  buildings  pertaining  to  the  palace.  The  north 
side,  towards  the  sea,  was  taken  up  by  the 
residence  in  which  the  monarch  himself  and  his 
family  lived.  The  cellars  of  this  building  ran 
deep  down  into  the  rocks  of  the  citadel ; they  had 
often  served  as  prisons,  especially  for  political 
offenders. 


28 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA NDALS. 


To  the  east  of  the  royal  residence,  and  sepa- 
rated from  it  only  by  a narrow  intervening  space, 
was  the  “ house  of  the  princes/'  and  opposite  this 
the  arsenal.  The  south  side,  facing  towards  the 
upper  city,  was  closed  by  the  fortress  wall  with  its 
gate  and  tower. 

On  the  ground-floor  of  the  house  of  the  princes 
was  a richly-adorned,  pillared  hall.  In  its  midst, 
on  a table  of  citron-wood  stood  a tall,  bronze, 
richly-gilded  wine-jar,  and  beside  it  were  several 
cups  of  various  patterns.  The  jar  contained  a dark 
red  wine,  whose  strong  fragrance  pervaded  the 
room. 

Not  far  from  the  table  was  a couch,  upon  which 
a zebra-skin  was  spread. 

Here  sat,  locked  in  a close  embrace,  “the  hand- 
somest of  the  Vandals"  and  a young  woman  of 
not  less  striking  beauty. 

The  Vandal  had  laid  aside  his  helmet,  adorned 
with  the  silvery  feathers  of  the  white  heron ; his 
blond  locks,  of  a darker  shade  than  usual  with  the 
men  of  his  race,  hung  down  upon  his  shoulders 
and  mingled  with  the  golden  hair  of  the  young 
woman,  who  was  zealously  employed  in  loosening 
the  heavy  breastplate  he  wore.  A moment  later 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  29 

it  slipped  clattering  down  beside  the  helmet  and 
sword-belt  on  the  marble  floor  of  the  hall. 

Then  with  her  soft  hands  she  brushed  back  the 
locks  of  hair  that  had  thrust  themselves  forward 
upon  his  temples,  and  feeding,  as  it  were,  upon 
the  look  of  love  in  his  noble  countenance,  she 
gazed  with  rapturous  delight  into  his  eyes. 

“ At  last  I have  you  again.  I hold  you  in  my 
arms,”  she  said  in  a low,  thrilling  voice. 

“ Oh,  you  sweetest  of  all  women !”  he  cried,  as 
he  clasped  her  to  his  heart  and  covered  her  eyes 
and  cheeks  and  her  trembling  lips  with  passionate 
kisses.  “ O Hilda,  my  happiness,  my  wife  ! How 
I have  longed  for  you — by  day,  by  night,  at  every 
moment  of  my  long  absence !” 

“ It  has  been  almost  forty  days,”  she  sighed. 
“Fully  forty,  and,  indeed,  it  seemed  far  more.” 
“Oh,  but  it  was  much  easier  for  you!  You 
were  with  your  brother,  with  your  comrades, 
busily  occupied  all  the  time  and  fighting  bravely 
in  the  enemy’s  land.  But  I— I had  to  sit  here 
among  the  women,  to  sit  and  weave  and  wait  in 
inactivity.  Oh,  that  I could  go  with  you  ! That 
I could  dash  forward  at  your  side  on  a fiery  steed, 
and  fight  and  at  last  fall  with  you  ! After  a hero’s 
life  a heroic  death !” 


30  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

She  sprang  up  ; her  light  gray  eyes  flashed  forth 
a wonderful  light ; she  tossed  back  on  her  neck  her 
waving  hair,  and  uplifted  her  arms  in  the  fervor 
of  her  enthusiasm. 

Her  husband  gently  drew  her  down  again  beside 
him. 

“ My  noble-souled  wife,  my  Hilda,”  said  he  with 
a smile,  “ with  prophetic  insight  your  ancestor 
named  you  after  the  glorious  leader  of  the  Valky- 
rias.  How  I thank  him,  good  old  Hildebrand,  the 
great  Gothic  king’s  master  of  arms!  For  with 
the  Valkyr’s  name  her  nature  also  became  yours. 
And  his  care  and  culture  nobly  developed  it.” 

Hilda  nodded  : “ My  parents  died  early  and  I 
scarcely  knew  them.  As  far  back  as  I can  remem- 
ber I was  under  the  protection  and  care  of  the  old 
hero.  In  the  palace  at  Ravenna  he  kept  me  jeal- 
ously secluded  in  his  own  apartments,  away  from 
the  pious  sisters  and  the  monks  who  educated  my 
youthful  companions.  I grew  up  in  company  writh 
his  other  ward,  the  dark-haired,  orphaned  Teia. 
It  was  Teia  who  taught  me  to  play  upon  the  harp, 
to  cast  the  spear,  and  to  catch  it  with  the  shield. 
And  later  when  the  king,  and  still  more  his  learned 
daughter  Amalaswintha,  insisted  that  I should 
take  lessons  from  women  and  priests,  how  cross 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


3* 


and  out  of  humor  was  my  great-grandfather,  as, 
scolding  all  the  time,  he  questioned  me  in  the 
evening  in  regard  to  what  the  nuns  had  taught 
me  during  the  day  ! When  I had  recited  the 
Latin  sayings  and  songs,  perhaps  the  ‘ Deus  pater 
ingenite’  or  the  ‘ Salve  sancta  parens’  of  Sedulius 
— I remember  scarcely  anything  more  of  them 
now  except  the  first  lines,”  laughed  she  merrily — 
“ then  he  was  wont  to  shake  his  massive  head, 
scold  a little  in  his  long  white  beard,  and  cry  : 
‘ Come,  Hilda!  Into  the  open  air!  Out  upon  the 
sea!  There  I will  tell  you  of  the  old  gods  and  the 
old  heroes  of  our  people.’  Then  he  took  me  far 
out  from  the  populous  port  to  the  solitude  of  a 
small,  uninhabited  island,  over  which  the  screeching 
sea-gulls  circle,  and  where  the  wild  swan  builds  her 
nest  in  the  sea-reeds.  There  we  sat  upon  the  sand, 
and,  while  the  waves  dashed  their  white  foam  close 
up  to  our  feet,  he  told  his  story.  And  how  he 
told  it,  good  old  Hildebrand  ! My  eyes  fairly 
hung  upon  his  lips,  as,  with  both  elbows  propped 
upon  his  knees,  I gazed  up  into  his  face.  How 
his  eye,  that  was  as  gray  as  the  sea  itself,  sparkled, 
how  his  white  hair  fluttered  in  the  evening  wind  ! 
His  voice  trembled  with  enthusiasm,  he  no  longer 
knew  where  he  was,  he  saw  all  that  he  was  saying, 


3* 


THE  LAST  OF  TILE  VANDALS 


or,  in  moments  of  still  loftier  inspiration,  chanting. 
And  when  he  had  come  to  an  end,  he  awoke  as 
from  some  dream-fought  battle,  sprang  to  his  feet 
and  laughed  contentedly,  as  he  passed  his  hand 
over  my  head  : ‘ There  ! there  ! Now  I have 
blown  away  again  from  your  soul  the  saints,  with 
their  stupid,  sickly  meekness,  as  the  north  wind 
sweeps  through  the  open  church-windows  the 
heavy  incense-vapor/  But  the  saints  had  not  at 
any  time  secured  a very  firm  lodgment,”  she 
added  with  a laugh. 

“ And  so  you  grew  up,”  said  her  husband,  raising 
his  hands  in  assumed  horror,  “as  Gelimer  com- 
plains, half  a heathen.  But,”  he  added  in  a changed 
tone,  “ wholly  a heroine,  who  believes  in  nothing 
so  sacredly  as  in  the  glory  of  her  people.” 

“And  in  your  glory — and  in  your  love!”  she 
said  in  a low,  impassioned  tone  and  kissed  him 
on  the  forehead.  “ Yet  it  is  true,”  she  continued, 
“ that  if  you  Vandals  were  not  of  the  same  great 
race  as  my  Goths,  I do  not  know  whether  I should 
have  loved  you — yet  could  I have  helped  it  ?— 
when  you  came,  sent  by  your  brother  Gelimer  to 
woo  me.  As  it  was,  to  see  you  and  to  love  you 
was  the  same  thing.  It  is  to  Gelimer  I owe  my 
husband  and  all  my  happiness.  I will  always 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  33 

remember  that,  and  it  shall  bind  me  to  him, 
although,”  she  added,  slowly  and  thoughtfully, 
“ there  are  many  things  which  tend  strongly  to 
repel  me  from  him.” 

“ My  brother  wished  by  this  marnage  to  lessen 
the  hostility,  to  bridge  the  chasm  which,  since 
that  bloody  deed  of  Hilderic’s,  has  separated  the 
two  kingdoms.  He  did  not  succeed.  He  was 
able  to  unite  only  us,  not  our  people.  He  is  full 
of  heavy  cares  and  gloomy  thoughts.” 

“ I often  think  that  he  is  sick  with  some  vital 
sickness,”  said  she,  musingly,  with  a shake  of  her 
head. 

“ He?  The  brawniest  hero  in  our  army  ? Why, 
he  alone- — my  brother  Zaro  scarce  can  do  it  any 
more — can  bend  my  outstretched  sword-arm.” 

“ Not  sick  in  body — sick  in  soul,  I mean.  But 
hush!  there  he  comes.  See  how  sad,  how  gloomy ! 
Is  that  the  brow,  is  that  the  countenance  of  a 
conqueror?” 


34 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


IV. 

In  the  colonnade  leading  from  the  interior  of 
the  building  to  the  arched  doorway  of  the  hall 
was  now  visible  a tall  figure,  that  slowly  ap- 
proached. 

The  man  who  had  entered  was  without  helmet, 
breastplate,  or  sword-belt ; he  was  dressed  in  close- 
fitting,  dark  gray  attire,  without  any  touch  of 
color,  and  absolutely  without  adornment." 

Several  times  he  paused  in  his  slow  advance, 
absorbed  in  brooding  thought,  his  hands  crossed 
behind  his  back,  his  head  bent  slightly  forward,  as 
if  weighed  down  by  the  burden  of  what  he  was 
considering.  His  lofty  brow  was  deeply  furrowed, 
and  amid  the  light  brown  color  of  his  hair  and 
beard  was  a plentiful  mixture  of  gray,  affording 
a peculiar  contrast  to  his  otherwise  still  youthful 
appearance.  His  eyes  were  steadily  fixed  upon 
the  ground,  so  that  their  color  and  expression  could 
not  at  the  moment  be  determined.  He  stopped 
again  under  the  arch  of  the  entrance-door,  and  a 
sigh  escaped  him. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


35 


u Hail,  Gelimer,  victorious  hero !”  exclaimed 
the  young  woman  in  a cordial,  joyous  voice. 
“ Receive  what  I prepared  for  you  when  your  re- 
turn was  announced  for  to-day.” 

So  saying,  she  took  from  the  table  a wreath  of 
freshly  picked  laurel,  and  held  it  up  as  if  to  place 
it  on  his  he'ad. 

But  with  a motion  of  his  hand,  gentle,  but  very 
expressive,  he  waved  her  back. 

“ Not  garlands  belong  upon  the  head  of  the  sin- 
ner,” he  said,  in  intense  but  half-suppressed  tones, 
“ but  ashes — ashes !” 

Sadly  and  with  an  aggrieved  air  Hilda  laid  the 
wreath  down. 

“ Sinner  ?”  exclaimed  her  husband,  indignantly. 
“ Well,  I suppose  we  are  all  sinners— in  the  eyes 
of  the  saints.  But  you  certainly  less  than  any  of 
the  rest.  Are  we  on  this  account  never  more  to 
rejoice?”  # 

“ Let  him  rejoice  who  can.” 

“ Oh,  brother,  you  can  also.  When  the  spirit 
of  the  hero  comes  upon  you,  when  you  are  borne 
along  in  the  wild  cavalry-charge,  I have  heard 
your  exulting  shout,  and  my  own  heart  has  leaped 
in  sympathy  with  your  joy,  as  you  dashed  for- 
ward in  advance  of  us  all  into  the  very  midst  of 


36  THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 

the  Moorish  lancers.  I seem  still  to  hear  your 
cry  of  triumph  as  you  wrested  the  banner  from 
their  standard-bearer,  whom  you  had  hurled  from 
his  horse  by  the  shock  of  your  onset.” 

“ Yes,  yes,  that  was  a glorious  moment,”  ex- 
claimed Gelimer,  suddenly  lifting  his  head,  while 
his  magnificent  hazel  eyes  flashed  with  enthusi- 
asm. “ Was  not  that  a splendid  horse  I rode? 
He  sweeps  everything  before  him,  as  if  Victory 
itself  were  his  rider.” 

“ So  it  is  when  he  carries  Gelimer,”  called  forth 
a clear  voice  from  one  side,  and  a boy,  whose  feat- 
ures closely  resembled  those  of  Gibamund  and 
Gelimer,  sprang  over  the  threshold  and  hastened 
towards  the  latter  with  outstretched  arms. 

“ O brother,  how  I love  you  ! And  how  I envy 
you ! But  the  next  time  you  go  to  hunt  the 
Moors  you  must — you  must,  I say — take  me  with 
you.  If  you  do  not,  I shall  go  against  your  will.” 

And  he  threw  his  arms  around  his  brother's 
neck. 

“ Ammata,  my  brother,  the  jewel  of  my  heart !” 
exclaimed  Gelimer,  as  he  affectionately  stroked 
the  boy's  long  golden-blond  locks.  “ I have 
brought  you  a milk-white  pony — one  swift  as  the 
wind — from  the  booty.  I thought  of  you  at  once 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


37 


when  it  was  led  before  me.  And  you,  fair  sister- 
in-law,  forgive  me.  I fear  I was  discourteous  just 
now.  My  soul  was  full  of  gloomy  cares,  for  I 
came — ” 

“ From  the  king,”  broke  in  a deep,  powerful 
voice,  as  a man  in  full  armor  entered  the  room. 
His  great  resemblance  to  the  others  proclaimed 
him  at  once  to  be  the  fourth  brother. 

Features  elongated,  but  thoroughly  noble,  a 
sharp,  but  well-formed  nose,  a broad  forehead, 
and  flashing  hazel  eyes,  sunk  almost  too  deep 
beneath  high-arching  brows,  were  characteristics 
common  to  all  these  royal  Asdings  of  the  race  of 
the  sun-god  Freyr.  Gelirner's  glance,  however, 
was  usually  that  of  a man  absorbed  in  a revery 
or  perplexed  by  doubt,  but  if  his  countenance 
suddenly  lighted  with  the  glow  of  enthusiasm  or 
anger,  then  its  fiery  power  became  almost  start- 
ling. 

The  man  who  had  just  entered  was  somewhat 
shorter  than  Gelimer,,  but  much  broader  in  chest 
and  limbs.  The  powerful  muscles  of  his  neck 
supported  a head  borne  haughtily  erect  and  cov- 
ered with  short,  brown,  curling  hair.  The  natu- 
ral flush  of  health  that  colored  his  cheeks  was  now 
deepened  by  violent  anger.  Although  only  a year 


38 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


younger  than  Gelimer,  he  seemed  like  a high- 
spirited  youth  in  comparison  with  the  man  who 
had  aged  so  much  beyond  his  years. 

Every  movement  bespoke  his  displeasure  and 
indignation  as  he  strode  up  to  the  table  and  flung 
upon  it  his  heavy  helmet,  adorned  with  the  crooked 
horns  of  the  African  buffalo,  with  such  force  that 
the  wine  spurted  out  of  the  cups. 

“ From  Hilderic,”  repeated  he,  “ the  most  un- 
grateful of  men.  What  was  the  hero’s  reward  for 
his  new  victory?  Mistrust,  fear  to  awaken  jeal- 
ousy in  Byzantium.  The  coward  ! Fair  sister-in- 
law,  you  have  more  heroism  in  your  little  finger 
than  this  king  of  the  Vandals  in  his  sword-arm 
and  heart.  Give  me  a cup  of  Grassiker  to  wash 
down  my  anger.” 

Hilda  sprang  nimbly  up,  poured  out  the  wine 
and  handed  him  the  goblet.  “ Drink,  valiant 
Zaro!  Hail  to  you  and  to  all  heroes,  and—” 

“ To  the  devil  with  Hilderic  !”  shouted  the  an- 
gry Zaro,  as  he  emptied  the  deep  goblet  at  one 
draught. 

“ Be  still,  brother  ! What  blasphemy  !”  said 
Gelimer,  reproachfully,  as  his  countenance 
clouded. 

“ Well,  for  all  I care,  to  heaven  with  him,  then  1 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 39 

He  is  better  fitted  for  it  than  for  the  sea-king 
Geiseric’s  throne.’' 

“ You  could  give  him  no  higher  praise.” 

“ I did  not  mean  it  so.  As.  I stood  by  when  he 
gave  you  that  ungracious  answer,  I could  have— 
But  the  time  for  scolding  has  passed  ; now  we 
must  act.  For  good  reasons  I remained  this  time 
at  home,  hard  as  it  was  to  see  you  set  out  alone 
to  victory.  But  I have  kept  a sharp  watch  on 
this  fox  in  purple,  and  I have  found  out  his  crafty 
tricks.  Send  away  this  love-sick  pair, — I suppose 
they  have  a thousand  things  to  say  to  each  other; 
for,  you  know,  they  have  been  married  only  a 
year.  Send  away  Ammata  too,  and  hear  my  re* 
port,  my  accusation,  not  only  against  the  king, 
but  against  others.” 

Gibamund  placed  his  arm  tenderly  around  the 
slender  waist  of  his  wife,  while  the  young  Am* 
rnata  ran  before  them  out  of  the  hall 


V, 

GELIMER  let  himself  sink  down  upon  the  couch, 
while  Zaro,  coming  straight  before  him  and  lean- 
ing upon  the  handle  of  his  long  sword,  spoke : 


40 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


“ Soon  after  you  departed  to  the  war,  Pudentius 
came  from  Tripolis  to  Carthage.” 

“ So  soon  again  ?” 

“ Yes;  he  is  no  stranger  nowadays  at  the  pal- 
ace. For  hours  at  a time  he  confers  in  private 
with  the  king ; or  with  Euages  and  Hoamer,  the 
king’s  arrogant  nephews  ai.d  our  worthy  cousins. 
The  latter,  boastful  fool,  cannot  keep  silent  after 
drinking.  Pie  has  babbled  in  his  cups.” 

“ Surely  not  to  you?” 

“ No;  but  to  the  ruddy-faced  Thrasaric.” 

“ The  roisterer !” 

“ I say  nothing  in  praise  of  his  manners,” 
laughed  Zaro.  “ Although  he  has  grown  much 
tamer  since  he  became  a modest  suitor  for  the 
hand  of  the  pretty  Eugenia.  However  he  is  no  liar. 
And  he  would  give  his  life  for  the  Vandal  people, 
especially  for  you,  whom  he  calls  his  preceptor. 
You  began  his  education,  I believe,  by  knocking 
him  down.  * In  the  Grove  of  Venus — ” 

“ Of  the  Holy  Virgin,  you  mean  to  say,”  inter- 
rupted Gelimer,  rebukingly. 

“ Well,  if  it  suits  you  better.  But  she  will  de- 
rive little  honor  from  the  name  as  long  as  the  0 
place  preserves  its  old  customs.  But  to  my  story. 
At  a feast  in  the  sheli-grotto  of  the  Grove,  Thrasa- 
ric praised  you,  and  expressed  the  opinion  that 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


41 


you  will  revive  the  military  glory  of  the  Van- 
dals when  you  become  king.  Then  Hoamer  cried 
out  angrily:  ‘Never!  never  will  that  happen! 
Byzantium  has  forbidden  it.  Gelimer  is  an  ene- 
my to  the  emperor.  If  my  uncle  dies,  I shall  be 
the  king.  Or  else  the  emperor  will  appoint  Pu- 
dentius  as  regent.  It  is  so  determined  upon  be- 
tween us.’  ** 

“ He  was  simply  talking  in  his  drunkenness/* 

“ There  is  truth  in  wine,  the  Romans  say.  Then 
Pudentius  came  to  the  grotto.  ‘ Ha!  * the  drunken 
man  cried  out  to  him,  ‘that  last  letter  of  yours 
from  the  emperor  was  worth  money.  Just  wait  till 
I am  king,  and  I will  reward  you  for  it : you  shall 
be  the  emperor’s  exarch  in  Tripolis.*  Pudentius 
was  terribly  frightened,  and  signalled  to  him  to  be 
silent,  but  he  continued : ‘ No,  no;  that  shall  be 
your  well-deserved  reward.*  All  this  was  related  to 
me  by  Thrasaric,  who  came  rushing  from  the  feast 
in  furious  anger.  But  wait ; there  is  still  more. 
This  Pudentius — do  you  consider  him  our  friend  ?** 

“ Oh  no,**  said  Gelimer  with  a sigh.  “ His  pa- 
rents, his  grandparents,  were  cruelly  put  to  death 
by  our  kings  for  remaining  true  to  their  faith. 
How  could  the  son,  the  grandson,  love  us?** 

Here  Zaro  stepped  close  to  his  brother’s  side, 
placed  his  heavy  hand  on  his  shoulder,  and  said 


42  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

slowly:  “And  Verus?  Ought  he  to  love  us? 
Have  you  forgotten  how  his  whole  family — ” 

An  expression  of  the  deepest  grief  came  over 
Gelimer's  face,  as  he  shook  his  head.  “ I — forget 
that?  I?” 

He  shuddered  and  closed  his  eyes.  But  in  a 
moment,  shaking  off  by  a powerful  effort  his  som- 
bre thoughts,  he  said  impatiently:  “Still  your 

old  deep-rooted  delusion  ! Still  this  mistrust  of 
the  most  faithful  of  all  those  who  love  me  ! ” 

“Oh,  brother  ! But  I do  not  reproach  you  for 
it.  Your  mind,  in  other  respects  so  clear,  is  blind 
in  regard  to  this  priest.  It  is  as  if  some  miracle 
had  been  worked.” 

“ A miracle  has  been  worked,”  interrupted  Gel- 
imer,  deeply  moved,  and  with  a pious  glance  to- 
wards heaven. 

“ What  then  do  you  say  to  this : that  Pudentius, 
whom  you  also  distrust,  has  been  admitted  secretly 
into  the  city  at  night — and  by  whom  ? By  Verus, 
your  bosom-friend !” 

“ That  is  not  true.” 

“ I saw  it.  I will  swear  to  it  to  the  priest’s  face. 
Would  he  were  here  now !” 

“ He  is  not  far  away.  He  was  the  first  of  you 
all  to  greet  me  on  my  entrance — he  was  most  anx- 
ious, he  said,  to  see  me  ; he  must  confer  with  me 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  43 

at  once.  I requested  him  to  come  here,  where 
he  would  find  me  as  soon  as  I should  be  dismissed 
by  the  king.  And  see ! There  he  comes  along 
the  colonnade.” 


VI. 

The  tall,  lank  priest  who  with  slow  step  now 
entered  the  hall  was  a man  a few  years  older  than 
Gelimer.  The  garb  he  wore  was  of  a dark-brown 
color  and  fell  in  folds,  mantle-like,  from  his  broad 
shoulders.  His  figure  denoted  sinewy  strength, 
and  his  striking  face,  whose  features  were  too 
.sharply  cut  to  be  handsome,  possessed  an  individ- 
uality which,  if  once  noticed,  could  not  readily  be 
forgotten.  His  eyes  were  dark  and  penetrating, 
the  brows  above  them  full,  black,  and  arching  ; but 
the  power  of  these  eyes  was  seldom  revealed, 
for  their  glance  was  directed  habitually  towards 
the  ground.  An  aquiline  nose,  thin,  firmly-closed 
lips,  deeply-sunken  cheeks,  a sallow  complexion, 
with  the  color  of  dull  yellow  marble,  all  combined 
to  render  this  expressive  countenance  one  of  no  or- 
dinary character.  His  lips,  chin,  and  cheeks  were 
smoothly  shaven,  His  hair  was  black,  but  was 


44  THE  last  of  the  VANDALS' 

much  more  abundantly  sprinkled  with  gray  than 
his  age  seemed  to  require. 

Every  movement  that  he  made  was  deliberate 
and  thoroughly  controlled,  revealing  clearly  the 
years  of  patiently  practised  self-restraint  which 
had  enabled  this  impenetrable  man  to  obtain  the 
mastery  over  himself  and  others. 

His  voice  was  low,  with  a timbre  of  deep  weari- 
ness or  melancholy,  although  there  were  times 
when  the  listener  was  tempted  to  suspect  that  its 
real  quality  was  carefully  disguised.  So,  too,  in 
rare  moments,  when  the  downcast  eyes  lifted, 
their  depths  revealed,  not  the  humility  and  peace 
which  the  priestly  garb  and  vocation  indicated, 
but  a fiery  fervor  of  intense  passion.  As  a rule, 
however,  nothing  that  was  passing  in  the  secret 
thoughts  of  the  man  caused  any  change  in  his  out- 
ward expression,  except  that,  occasionally,  the 
sharply-cut  lips,  however  firmly  they  might  be 
pressed  together,  betrayed  by  an  involuntary 
twitching  that  this  stiff,  corpse-like  countenance 
was  not  the  mask  of  a dead  soul. 

* Gelimer  sprang  up  and  hastened  towards  the  en- 
trance as  soon  as  he  perceived  the  priest.^  The 
latter  stood  motionless,  his  arms  hanging  limp  at 
his  sides,  while  the  Vandal  pressed  him  affection* 
ately  to  his  breast. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


45 


“ Verus,  my  Verus  I”  he  exclaimed.  “ My  guar- 
dian-spirit ! And  it  is  you — you  ! — upon  whom 
they  seek  to  cast  suspicion  ? Assuredly,  brother, 
the  stars  will  sooner  fall  from  God’s  fixed  order 
in  the  heavens  than  this  man  will  swerve  from  his 
fidelity.” 

So  saying,  he  kissed  the  cheek  of  the  priest,  who 
made  no  movement  to  return  either  the  embrace 
or  the  greeting.  Angrily  Zaro  observed  the  two. 

“ He  has  more  warmth  of  feeling,  more  love,” 
he  muttered,  “ for  this  Roman,  this  foreigner, 
than  for — Speak,  priest ; can  ycru  deny  that  last 
Sunday — it  was  past  midnight — Pudentius — Ah, 
your  lip  is  twitching  now  ! — Pudentius  of  Tripolis 
was  secretly  let  in  by  you  at  the  postern  of  the 
east  gate,  and  conducted  to  your  house  beside 
the  church  ? Speak  ! What  say  you  ?” 

Gelimer  had  now  stepped  aside.  Slightly  smil- 
ing he  shook  his  head,  and  his  eyes  rested,  full  of 
trust,  upon  the  countenance  of  his  friend. 

Verus  was  silent. 

“ Speak,”  reitated  Zaro.  “ Deny  it,  if  you  dare. 
You  little  supposed  that  I was  observing  you  from 
the  tower  above,  after  I had  dismissed  the  night- 
watch.  For  a long  time  I have  mistrusted  the 
warden  of  the  gate,  who  was  formerly  a slave  of 
Pudentius ; it  was  you  who  purchased  and  liber- 


4-6  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

ated  him.  Do  you  see,  brother?  He  is  silent.  I 
will  arrest  him  at  once.  We  will  search  his  hous^ 
his  secret  cabinets,  the  altars  and  sarcophagi 
his  church,  aye,  his  very  clothes,  for  the  t reache 
ous  correspondence  we  shall  surely  find.” 

Here  the  priest’s  dark  eyes  flashed  a startle 
look  upon  the  speaker,  then  they  cast.a  quick,  fur- 
tive glance  towards  Gelimer  and  again  fixed  them- 
selves tranquilly  upon  the  ground. 

“ Do  you  still  deny  it  ?” 

“ No.”  The  word  was  barely  audible  as  it  came 
from  his  lips,  which  seemed  scarcely  to  open  as 
they  gave  it  utterance. 

“ Do  you  hear  that,  brother?” 

Gelimer  moved  quickly  a step  nearer  to  Verus. 
“ It  was  on  this  account,”  said  the  priest,  calmly, 
“ that  I asked  for  an  immediate  interview,  for  the 
purpose  of  disclosing  this  very  thing.” 

“ Now  I call  that  presence  of  mind!”  said  Zaro, 
with  a loud  laugh.  “ But  how  will  you  prove 
what  you  assert  ?” 

“ I have  brought  the  proof  with  me,”  continued 
Verus,  still  turned  towards  Gelimer  and  paying  no 
attention  to  Zaro’s  interruption,  “ that  Pudentius 
is  a traitor.  Here  is  the  evidence.” 

He  slowly  opened  his  mantle,  felt  in  the  folds 


47 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 

of  the  tunic  that  covered  his  breast,  and,  after 
some  search,  drew  forth  a small,  rumpled  piece  of 
papyrus.  He  handed  it  to  Gelimer,  who  hastily 
unfolded  it  and  read  : 

“ In  spite  of  your  warning  the  matter  is  settled. 
Belisarius  is  perhaps  already  on  the  way . Give 
this  to  the  king,” 

Both  Vandals  started  in  sudden  affright. 

“This  letter ?”  Gelimer  asked. 

“ Was  written  by  Pudentius.” 

“To  whom  ?” 

‘‘To  me.” 

“ Do  you  hear,  brother  ?”  cried  Zaro.  “ He  has 
betrayed — ” 

“The  traitors,”  said  Verus,  finishing  the  sen- 
tence. “ Yes,  Gelimer,  I have  acted,  while  you 
were  brooding  in  doubt  and  despair,  and  while 
this  valiant  dullard  slept  or — blustered.  You  re- 
member that  I warned  you  long  ago  that  the  king 
and  his  nephews  were  in  negotiation  with  Byzan- 
tium?” 

“Did  he  do  that,  really,  brother?”  asked  Zaro, 
with  surprise. 

“ Long  ago.  And  repeatedly.” 

The  look  of  astonishment  on  Zaro’s  face  was 
mingled  with  incredulity.  But  with  a toss  of  his 


48 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


head  he  said:  “ Forgive  me,  then,  priest,  if  I — if 
I really  did  you  injustice.” 

“ Pudentius,”  continued  Verus,  without  replying 
to  Zaro,  “ was,  as  I conjectured,  the  intermediary. 
I gained  his  confidence.” 

“ That  is,  you  deceived  him — as  perhaps  you 
are  now  deceiving  us,”  suggested  Zaro. 

“ Be  still,  brother,”  commanded  Gelimer,  au- 
thoritatively. 

“ It  was  not  difficult  to  convince  him.  By  your 
kings  my  family,  like  his  own — ” He  did  not 
finish  the  sentence,  but  began  again  after  a sec- 
ond’s pause : “ I complained  of  what  I had  suf- 
fered ; I found  fault  with  your  cruelty.” 

“And  with  justice.  Alas  for  us,  with  justice!” 
lamented  Gelimer,  striking  his  forehead  with  his 
clinched  fist. 

“ I said  my  friendship  for  you  is  not  so  strong 
as  my  avenging  hate  on  account  of — of  those 
whom  I have  lost.  Then  he  disclosed  his  secret 
plans.  I was  startled.  For  truly,  if  God  had  not 
by  a miracle  blinded  his  suspicions,  the  kingdom 
of  the  Vandals  would  have  been  irreparably  lost. 
I warned  him — in  order  to  gain  time  until  you 
should  return,  I warned  him  of  the  terrible  re- 
venge that  you  would  take  upon  all  the  Romans, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


49 


when  the  uprising  should  be  suppressed.  He  hesi- 
tated, and  finally  promised  to  weigh  the  matter 
carefully  again  and  to  negotiate  still  further  with 
the  king.  This  note,  brought  to  me  to-day  in  the 
basilica  by  an  unknown  person,  contains  his  de- 
cision. Act  quickly.  Otherwise  it  may  be  too 
late.” 

Incapable  of  speech,  Gelimer  gazed  straight  be- 
fore him.  Zaro’s  hand  sought  his  sword.  With 
an  impetuous  movement  he  turned  to  leave  the 
room. 

“ Whither  now?”  said  the  priest  very  softly,  as 
he  grasped  Zaro’s  arm.  So  firm,  so  powerful  was 
the  grasp  that  the  Vandal  could  itot  shake  it  off. 

“ Whither?  To  the  king.  To  cut  down  the 
traitor  and  his  allies.  Then  to  call  together  the 
army  and — ‘ Long  live  King  Gelimer  ! ’ ” 

“ Madman  !”  cried  Gelimer  in  affright,  as  if  de- 
tected in  his  most  secret  wishes,  “remain  here. 
Will  you  heap  upon  the  sins  which  already  burden 
the  Vandal  people,  and  especially  our  house,  the 
added  crime  of  the  dethronement  and  murder  of 
the  king,  our  kinsman  ? Where  is  the  proof  of 
Hilderic’s  guilt  ? Was  not  my  long-cherished  sus- 
picion merely  the  fruit — or  the  pretext — of  my 
own  impatient  desire  for  the  crown?  Pudentius 


50  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

may  be  lying,  or  at  least  exaggerating.  Where  is 
the  proof  that  treason  is  intended  ?" 

“Will  you  wait  until  it  has  succeeded ?"  asked 
the  indignant  Zaro. 

•<‘No;  but  I will  not  punish  it  until  the  proof  is 
clear." 

“ It  is  thus  a Christian  speaks,"  said  the  priest. 

But  the  evidence  must  be  quickly  obtained  ; we 
must  have  it  to-day.  I have  ground  for  believing 
that  Pudentius  is  still  concealed  in  the  city." 

“We  must  have  him!"  cried  Zaro.  “Where  is 
he?  With  the  king?" 

“ They  do  not  plot  so  openly.  He  visits  the 
palace  secretly  at  night.  But  I know  his  hiding- 
place  ; it  is  in  the  Grove  of  the  Holy  Virgin,  at 
the  warm  baths." 

“ Send  me,  brother — at  once  !" 

“ Go,  then,"  nodded  Gelimer. 

“ But  do  not  slay  him,"  the  priest  called  after 
the  departing  Zaro. 

“ No ; by  all  the  saints,  we  must  have  him  alive  !" 
exclaimed  Zaro,  as  he  disappeared  through  the 
doorway. 

“ Oh,  Verus,"  cried  Gelimer,  deeply  moved,  “ my 
most  faithful  friend  ! Am  I to  be  permitted  to 
thank  you  for  the  saving  of  my  people,  as  well  as 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 5 1 

for  the  life  you  once  rescued  from  a fearfuPdeath  ?” 
And  he  sought  to  take  the  hand  of  the  priest. 

But  the  latter  drew  it  back. 

“It  is  God  whom  you  have  to  thank  for  yo, 
own,  for  your  people's  fate,  not  me.  I am  bf 
the  involuntary  instrument  of  his  will,  since  I have 
assumed  this  priestly  garb.  But  listen  : only  to 
you  dare  I entrust  the  full  details — your  hot-headed 
brother,  in  his  blind  fury,  would  ruin  everything. 
Your  life  is  threatened.  That,  I know,  does  not 
alarm  the  hero;  but  you  must  be  preserved  now 
for  your  people's  sake.  Fall,  if  you  must,  in  the  van 
of  your  army,  by  the  sword  of  Belisarius,  but  you 
shall  not  die  a miserable  death  by  assassina- 
tion.” 

“Assassination?  Who  would  attempt — ” 

“ The  king.  There  is  no  room  for  doubt.  Pu- 
dentius  confessed  it.  His  nephews  have  overcome 
his  scruples.  They  know  that  as  long  as  you  live 
their  plans  miscarry.  They  will  never  permit  you 
to  become  king  of  the  Vandals." 

Here  a quick,  stolen  glance  flashed  from  the 
dark  eyes,  but  they  sank  again  at  once  to  the 
ground. 

“ That  remains  to  be  seen  !”  exclaimed  Gelimer, 
hotly.  “ I will  be  king,  and  woe — ” He  broke  off 


52  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

abruptly  and  his  breath  came  in  quick  gasps. 
After  a pause  he  asked  humbly  and  with  a falter- 
ing voice : “ Is  this  desire  a sin.  my  brother  ?” 

The  priest  answered  quietly:  “ You  have  a right 
to  the  crown.  Should  you  die,  then  Hoamer,  as 
the  eldest  of  the  male  line  after  yourself,  would 
succeed  Hilderic,  in  accordance  with  Geiseric’s  law 
of  succession.  Consequently  they  have  persuaded 
the  king  to  invite  you — you  alone — on  the  day  of 
your  return  to  a secret  conference  in  the  palace, 
and  there  to  murder  you.” 

“ Impossible,  my  friend.  I have  already  been 
before  the  king.  He  received  me  ungraciously, 
but,”  he  said  with  a smile,  “you  see  that  I still 
live.” 

“ When  in  the  king’s  presence  you  were  accom- 
panied by  the  captains  of  your  army.  But  take 
heed,  if  he  should  summon  you  again  to-day — and 
alone.” 

“ That  would,  indeed,  be  suspicious.  We  finished 
all  that  required  discussion.” 

At  this  very  moment  steps  were  heard  in  the 
passage  outside.  A negro  slave  entered  and 
handed  Gelimer  a letter.  “ From  the  king,”  he 
said,  and  withdrew. 

The  Vandal  hastily  tore  open  the  fastening  of 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  S3 

the  wax  tablets,  glanced  over  the  contents,  and 
turned  pale. 

“ You  see — ” 

“ No  ! no!  I will  not  believe  it.  It  may  be  a 
mere  coincidence.  Hilderic  is  weak,  he  hates  me 
— but  he  is  not  an  assassin/’ 

“ So  much  the  better,  if  Pudentius  was  lying. 
But  it  is  a friend’s  duty  to  warn  you.  Do  not  go.” 
“I  must.  Shall  I be  moved  by  fear?  Does 
my  Verus  so  misjudge  me  ?” 

“ Then  go  not  alone.  Take  Zaro  with  you — o t 
Gibamund.” 

“ Impossible!  Contrary  to  the  king’s  command  ? 
And  only  unarmed  is  it  permitted  to  enter  the 
royal  presence,  when  summoned  to  a secret  coun- 
cil.” 

“ At  least  wear — under  your  clothing — the  coat- 
of-mail  which  will  protect  you  against  a dagger- 
thrust.  And  your  short  sword — can  you  not  con- 
ceal it  in  your  sleeve  or  girdle  ?” 

“ My  over-anxious  friend  !”  said  Gelimer,  smil- 
ing. “ Solely  out  of  regard  for  you,  I will  put  on 
the  concealed  coat  of  mail.” 

“That  is  not  enough.  However,  on  reflection, 
there  will  be  some  way  to  help  you  in  case  of 
need.  Yes,  that  will  suffice,” 


54  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

“ What  is  it  you  purpose  doing  ?” 

“ Hush!  I will  pray  that  what  is  in  my  thoughts 
may  find  fulfilment.  And  you,  too,  my  brother, 
pray.  For  you,  and  all  of  us,  stand  face  to  face 

with  perils,  whose  outcome  God  only 99  He 

stopped  suddenly,  raised  both  his  hands  to  his 
head,  and  with  a hoarse  cry  fell  over  upon  the 
couch. 

“Oh,  Verus!”  cried  Gelimer.  “He  has 
swooned.”  And  he  plunged  his  hand  into  the 
water  of  the  mixing-jug  and  sprinkled  the  face  of 
the  unconscious  man.  Slowly  the  priest  opened 
his  eyes  and  with  an  effort  rose  from  the  couch. 

“No  matter!  It  has  passed.  The  anxiety  of 
this  hour  was  perhaps — too  great.  I am  going- 
no,  I do  not  need  support — to  the  basilica— to 
pray.  Send  Zaro  thither,  as  soon  as  he  returns — - 
send  him  before  you  go  to  the  king.  Do  you  hear? 
And  may  the  God  of  heaven  grant  my  fervent 
wish !” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


55 


> 

VlL 

TO  CETHEGUS  FROM  A FRIEND; 

The  war  against  the  Vandals  has  been  given 
up.  And  from  what  deplorable  reasons  I 

You  know  that  I consider  it  much  wiser  that 
our  sovereign  should  give  attention  to  the  internal 
affairs  of  our  own  empire  than  to  the  barbarians. 
For  as  long  as  this  unendurable  taxation  and 
abuse  of  office  continues  in  the  Romaic  realm,  so 
long  will  every  new  conquest,  every  increase  in 
the  number  of  our  subjects,  only  augment  the  list 
of  the  unfortunate. 

If,  however,  we  desire  to  win  back  the  African 
provinces,  we  surely  ought  not  to  abandon  so  glo- 
rious an  enterprise — out  of  pure  cowardice. 

There  the  abominable  word  stands,  plainly  writ- 
ten ! — and,  unfortunately,  it  speaks  the  truth. 

The  cowardice  of  whom?  Not  of  the  Empress 
Theodora.  Cowardice  is  not  a weakness  of  this 
dainty,  delicate  woman.  Two  years  ago  when  the 
fearful  sedition  "of  the  green  and  the  blue  swept 


56 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


resistlessly  from  the  circus  over  the  entire  city, 
when  Justinian  despaired  and  was  about  to  flee,  it 
was  Theodora’s  courage  that  kept  him  in  the  palace, 
and  the  faithfulness  of  Belisarius  that  saved  him. 
Nor  does  the  reproach  this  time  lie  against  the 
emperor.  It  is  the  army,  and  especially  the  fleet, 
that  must  bear  the  stigma. 

It  is  true  Justinian’s  zeal  has  perceptibly  cooled 
since  the  clever  plan  miscarried  to  destroy  Geiser- 
ic’s  kingdom  almost  without  war,  purely  through 
“ artifice,”  or  treachery,  as  ordinary  people  would 
be  apt  to  term  it.  King  Hilderic,  at  a time  agreed 
upon,  was  to  send  his  entire  army  to  the  south  for 
a great  campaign  against  the  Moors  ; then  our 
fleet  was  to  sail  into  the  undefended  harbor  of 
Carthage,  land  the  army,  occupy  the  port,  and 
proclaim  Hilderic,  Hoamer,  and  a senator  of  Tripo- 
lis  the  three  governors  for  Justinian  in  the  recover- 
ed province  of  Africa.  But  we  crafty  schemers 
were  outwitted  by  one  still  more  crafty.  Our 
friend  from  Tppolis  writes  that  he  has  been  deceiv- 
ed in  that  Arian  priest  whom  he  supposed  he  had 
won  over;  that  the  priest  in  the  beginning  seemed 
favorably  disposed,  but  afterwards  began  to  waver 
and  to  discourage  the  enterprise,  if,  indeed,  he  did 
not  betray  the  whole  matter  to  the  Vandals.  The 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 


57 


only  course  left  was  to  make  an  open  attack.  This 
naturally  commended  itself  to  Belisarius,  but  not 
to  the  emperor.  He  hesitated. 

Meanwhile — God  only  knows  how  ! — the  news 
of  the  coming  Vandal  war  spread  through  the 
court  and  the  city,  among  the  army  and  the  fleet, 
and — oh,  shame  and  disgrace  ! — anxiety  and  fear 
seized,  not  only  the  soldiers  and  sailors,  but  even 
the  commandersiand  the  highest  dignitaries  of  the 
state.  For  all  thought  of  the  last  great  campaign 
against  these  dreaded  enemies,  undertaken  two 
generations  ago,  in  the  time  of  the  Emperor  Leo, 
with  all  the  might  of  our  realm.  At  the  same 
time  the  Emperor  of  the  West  attacked  the  Van- 
dals in  Sardinia  and  Tripolis.  A hundred  and 
thirty  thousand  pounds  of  gold  were  spent.  Ba- 
silikos,  the  emperor’s  brother-in-law,  led  a fleet  of 
a thousand  ships  and  an  army  of  a hundred  thou- 
sand men  to  the  shores  of  Carthage.  In  one  night 
all  was  lost.  At  the  same  hour  Geiseric  fell  with 
his  fire-ships  upon  our  crowded  triremes  off  the 
promontory  of  Mercury,  and  his  fierce  horsemen 
stormed  the  Roman  camp  on  the  shore.  In  fire 
and  blood  fleet  and  army  went  to  a common  ruin. 
And  now  the  praetorian  prefect  and  the  imperial 
treasurer  lament : 

■“It  will  happen  just  as  before.  The  last  solidi 


58  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS \ 

of  the  almost  empty  chests  will  be  sunk  in  the 
sea.” 

And  the  generals  of  the  army— except  Beli- 
sarius  and  Narses— what  heroes  ! Each  one  fears 
that  the  emperor  will  select  him.  And  how  can 
he,  granting  that  he  overcomes  his  terror  of  the 
sea,  effect  a landing  on  a hostile  coast  in  the  face 
of  the  dreaded  Germans?  The  soldiers,  moreover, 
who  have  just  returned  from  the  Persian  war,  have 
scarcely  yet  tasted  the  pleasures  of  idleness.  They 
throng  mutinously  all  the  streets,  complaining 
that,  having  just  come  back  from  the  most  distant 
east,  they  are  now  to  be  sent  to  the  remotest  west, 
to  the  Pillars  of  Hercules,  to  fight  against  Moors 
and  Vandals.  They  have  had  no  experience  in 
naval  warfare,  they  were  not  enrolled  for  it  and 
are  not  obligated  to  undertake  it.  At  the  same 
time  the  praetorian  prefect  has  represented  to  the 
emperor  that  to  march  by  land  from  Egypt  to 
Carthage  would  require  one  hundred  and  fifty 
days,  while  the  invincible  fleet  of  the  Vandals 
would  effectually  block  the  passage  by  sea.  Do 
not  stir  up,  ” he  said  warningly,  “ this  African 
wasps’  nest.  If  you  do,  their  pirate  ships  will 
plunder  our  coasts  and  .islands  again  as  they  did 
in  the  days  of  Geiseric.”  The  prefect’s  advice 
prevailed,  and  the  emperor  has  abandoned  the 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  $9 

undertaking.  You  may  fancy  how  our  angry 
hero  Belisarius  grumbles  and  scolds. 

Theodora,  too,  is  angry,  but  she  says  nothing. 
She  desired  this  war  most  eagerly.  I am  cer- 
tainly not  her  favorite  ; I am  far  too  independent, 
too  much  the  thinker  of  my  own  thoughts — and 
my  conscience  reproaches  me  often  enough  on 
account  of  my  lack  of  sincerity.  Now  she  has  the 
best  possible — that  is  to  say,  the  best  disciplined — 
conscience.  It  never  bites  any  more  ; its  teeth,  I 
suppose,  have  long  ago  been  worn  off.  But  even  I 
have  repeatedly  received  the  dainty  little  papy- 
rus-rolls, with  the  flaming  scorpion  on  the  seal, 
which  are  accustomed  to  convey  her  secret  com- 
mands, and  in  these  notes  I have  been  urgently 
advised  to  manifest  a zeal  for  war,  if  I do  not  wish 
entirely  to  lose  her  good-will. 


VIII. 

SINCE  I wrote  the  above,  a few  days  ago,  impor- 
tant news  has  reached  us  from  Africa. 

Mighty  changes  have  occurred  there,  changes 
which  may  compel  the  wavering  emperor  to  un- 
dertake the  war.  That  which  our  statesmanship 


60  THE  LAST  OF  TEE  VANDALS, 

was  most  zealously  endeavoring  to  prevent  for  the 
future  has,  in  spite  of  our  efforts,  perhaps  indeed 
because  of  them,  already  taken  place : Gelimer  is 
king  of  the  Vandals. 

The  archdeacon  Verus — for  now  we  can  call 
things  by  their  right  names — was  really  plotting 
against  us,  not  for  us.  He  betrayed  everything  to 
Gelimer.  Pudentius  of  Tripolis,  who  was  secretly 
staying  in  Carthage,  was  to  be  seized.  Verus  dis- 
closed his  place  of  concealment.  Although  in  this 
connection  it  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  a few 
minutes  previously  Pudentius  made  his  escape 
from  Carthage,  mounted  on  the  priest’s  best 
horse. 

On  the  same  day,  in  the  royal  palace,  a mys- 
terious affair  occurred,  of  which  only  the  result  is 
clear,  for  Gelimer  is  king  of  the  Vandals.  What 
actually  took  place  and  the  reasons  for  it  are  vari- 
ously stated.  Some  say  that  Gelimer  attempted 
to  murder  the  king,  others  that  the  king  sought 
to  take  Gelimer’s  life.  Still  others  whisper 
— so  writes  Pudentius — about  a secret  warning 
given  to  the  king.  Some  unknown  person  had 
revealed  to  him  by  letter  that  Gelimer  would  at- 
tempt to  poniard  him  at  their  next  private  inter- 
view. In  order  to  bring  the  crime  home  to 
the  would-be  assassin,  the  king  was  advised 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


6 1 


to  summon  him  to  such  an  interview.  The 
murderer  would  either,  on  account  of  a guilty 
conscience,  refuse  to  come,  or,  in  defiance  of 
the  stringent  regulations  of  the  court,  would  be 
provided  with  defensive  armor  and  a concealed 
weapon.  Hilderic,  therefore,  should  equip  him- 
self with  a coat-of-mail  and  a dagger,  and  should 
have  assistance  within  call.  This  advice  the  king 
followed. 

It  is  certain  that  he  invited  Gelimer  that  even- 
ing to  a conference  in  his  sleeping-room,  on  the 
ground-floor  of  the  palace.  Gelimer  came.  The 
king  embraced  him,  discovered  the  coat-of-mail 
under  his  clothing,  and  called  for  help.  From  a 
side  chamber  rushed  the  king’s  nephews,  Hoamer 
and  Euages,  with  drawn  swords,  to  slay  the  mur- 
derer. But  at  the  same  time  there  sprang  through 
the  windows,  from  the  garden,  two  of  Gelimer’s 
brothers,  whom  Verus  had  concealed  among  the 
bushes.  The  king  and  Euages  were  disarmed 
and  made  prisoners.  Hoamer  escaped  and  sum- 
moned the  Vandals  whom  he  met  to  arms  to  free 
their  king,  who  had  been  murderously  assailed  by 
Gelimer.  The  barbarians  hesitated,  for  Hilderic 
was  but  little  loved,  while  Gelimer  was  held  in  high 
honor  and  considered  incapable  of  such  a crime. 
And  now  Gelimer  came  up,  gave  the  lie  to  his  ac- 


62 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


cuser,  charged  Hilderic  and  his  nephews  with 
attempted  murder,  and  to  decide,  the  matter* 
challenged  Hoamer  to  mortal  combat  before  all 
the  people,  and  struck  him  dead  at  the  first  blow. 
The  Vandals  shouted  their  approval,  pronounced 
forthwith  in  a tumultuous  assemblage  the  deposi- 
tion of  Hilderic,  and  hailed  Gelimer,  the  lawful 
successor,  as  king.  Scarcely  could  the  new  mon- 
arch’s intercession  save  the  lives  of  the  two  cap- 
tives. 

With  regard  to  Verus,  it  is  said  that  he  has 
been  raised  to  the  office  of  chancellor,  and  ap- 
pointed Gelimer’s  chief  adviser.  What  think  you 
of  that?  We  who  have  been  betrayed  know 
through  what  services  the  priest  has  deserved  such 
a reward — at  our  cost. 

But  my  conjecture  is  that  this  change  of  the 
crown  will  certainly  bring  with  it  war.  For  Jus- 
tinian is  now  bound  in  honor  to  rescue  or  to  avenge 
his  dethroned  and  imprisoned  friend.  I have 
already  composed  a masterly  letter  to  this  “ tyrant” 
Gelimer,  the  ending  of  which  reads  : “ Contrary  to 
right  and  your  duty  you  hold  your  cousin,  the 
lawful  king  of  the  Vandals,  in  chains,  and,  a 
usurper,  you  deprive  him  of  his  crown.  Unless 
you  replace  him  on  the  throne,  we  shall  take  the 
field  against  you.  And  in  so  doing” — this  sen- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA JVDALS.  63 

tence  was  dictated  to  me  word  for  word  by  the 
emperor — “ in  so  doing  we  shall  not  break  the  per- 
petual peace  formerly  concluded  with  Geiseric,  for 
we  shall  not  fight  against  Geiseric’s  legitimate 
successor,  but  rather  to  avenge  him.”  You  notice 
the  juridical  subtlety.  The  emperor  prides  him- 
self more  upon  this  sentence  than  Belisarius  upon 
his  great  victory  over  the  Persians  at  Dara. 

If  this  Gelimer  should  really  do  what  we  de- 
mand; we  avengers  of  the  right  would  find  our- 
selves in  an  abominable  entanglement.  For  we 
want  this  war.  We  desired  to  acquire  Africa  long 
before  this  crime  took  place,  which  we  are  setting 
out  to  avenge — provided,  of  course,  from  motives 
of  economy  and  prudence,  we  do  not  decide  to  re- 
main quietly  at  home. 

******** 

Now  we  have  the  answer  of  the  Vandal.  For 
a barbarian  and  a tyrant  a right  kingly  one ! 

“ King  Gelimer  to  King  Justinian  ” (notice  with 
what  insolence  he  employs  the  same  word,  “ ba- 
sileus,”  both  for  emperor  and  for  king): 

“ I have  not  assumed  the  sceptre  by  force,  nor 
have  I committed  a crime  against  my  kinsman. 
But  the  people  of  the  Vandals  have  deposed 
Hilderic  because  he  plotted  iniquitously  against 
the  line  of  the  Asdings,  against  his  lawful  sue- 


64  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

cessors,  and  against  the  kingdom  itself.  The  law 
of  succession  places  me,  as  the  oldest  of  the 
Asdings  after  Hilderic,  upon  the  vacant  throne. 
That  monarch,  0 Justinian,  acts  wisely  who 
governs  well  his  own  state  and  does  not  interfere 
in  the  affairs  of  others.  If  you  break  the  sworn 
treaty  and  attack  us,  we  will  manfully  defend 
ourselves  and  invoke  the  aid  of  a righteous  God, 
who  punishes  perjury  and  all  injustice.” 

Good  ! You  please  me,  King  Gelimer.  It  de- 
lights me  to  have  someone  tell  our  imperial  jurist 
that  he  ought  not  to  blow  a tire  wdiich  does  not 
burn  him,  a saying  which  it  seems  to  me  is  the 
epitome  of  all  statesmanship. 

The  letter  of  the  barbarian  has  hotly  incensed 
Justinian,  which  is  a further  proof  that  the  bar- 
barian is  right.  But  it  appears  that  we  are  going 
to  put  this  answer  as  quietly  in  our  pockets  as  we 
thuist  back  into  its  scabbard  the  sword  we  were 
formerly  about  to  draw.  The  emperor  inveighs 
openly  against  the  tyrant,  but  the  army  asserts 
still  more  openly  that  it  will  not  fight.  And  the 
empress — says  nothing. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS,  6$ 


IX, 

Meanwhile  King  Gelimer  with  all  his  might 
prepared  for  the  impending  struggle.  He  found 
much,  altogether  too  much,  that  demanded  im- 
mediate attention. 

The  king,  while  reserving  to  himself  the  general 
direction  of  affairs  and  personally  taking  part 
wherever  it  seemed  to  be  necessary,  had  en- 
trusted to  Zaro  the  restoration  of  the  fleet,  to 
Gibamund  that  of  the  army. 

On  the  evening  of  a sultry  August  day  he  re- 
ceived their  detailed  reports.  The  three  brothers 
had  met  in  the  great  hall  of  state  of  the  royal 
palace,  in  which  Gelimer  now  resided.  The  open 
windows  afforded  a magnificent  view  over  the 
harbor  out  upon  the  sea,  and  through  them  came 
the  refreshing  breath#of  the  north  wind. 

This  part  of  the  old  citadel  had  been  remod- 
elled by  the  Vandal  kings,  altered  according  to 
the  requirements  of  life  at  the  court  of  a German 
monarch.  The  round  Grecian  columns  werfe  here 
replaced,  in  imitation  of  the  architecture  of  the 
Germanic  wooden  halls,  by  great  quadrangular 
pillars  of  brown  and  red  marble,  which  Africa 
furnished  in  rich  variety.  The  roof  was  wain- 


66 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


scotod  with  woodwork  painted  or  stained  in  dif- 
ferent colors.  Everywhere  on  stone  and  wood,  in 
addition  to  the  rune  A crossed  by  an  arrow,  the 
armorial  badge  of  the  Asdings,  not  only  other 
runes,  but  also  short  sayings  were  carved  on  the 
mouldings  in  the  Gothic  letters  of  Ulfilas.  Rich 
curtains  of  purple  silk  swayed  in  the  breeze  at 
the  open  arched  windows  ; the  walls  were  adorned 
with  slabs  of  polished  marble,  arranged  in  a varied 
alternation  of,  for  the  most  part,  glaring  colors,  a 
combination  especially  pleasing  to  barbaric  taste ; 
the  floor  was  composed  of  artistic  mosaics,  but 
roughly  laid  and  ill-fitting,  for  Geiseric  had  simply 
caused  to  be  joined  together,  without  much  selec- 
tion, the  patterns  richest  in  color  which,  together 
with  statues  and  reliefs,  he  had  brought  here  in 
whole  shiploads  from  the  palaces  of  plundered 
Rome. 

On  the  side  facing  the  sea  sose,  on  five  broad 
steps,  the  throne  of  Geiseric.  These  steps  were 
intended  to  receive  the  personal  followers  of  the 
king,  the  nobles  and  guards,  the  leaders  of  a 
thousand  and  the  captains  of  a hundred,  arranged 
according  to  their  rank  and  the  favor  of  their 
sovereign.  When  they  all,  in  their  rich,  fantastic, 
half-Roman,  half-German  dress  and  armor,  were 
ranged  here  close  about  their  king,  while  above 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS,  67 


them  waved  the  Vandal  banners,  of  scarlet  silk, 
and  when  on  the  lofty  throne,  from  whose  tent- 
like canopy  a golden  dragon  hung,  swinging  from 
a cord, — when  on  this  throne,  at  the  base  of  which, 
as  symbols  of  tribute,  Moorish  princes  had  heaped 
up  piles  of  lion  and  of  tiger  skins,  the  mighty 
sea-king  raised  the  seven-lashed  scourge,  pre- 
sented to  him  by  his  friend  Attila,  and  with  angry 
threats  swung  it  around  his  massive  head,  the 
scene  was  one  that  the  beholder  could  not  soon 
forget,  and  many  an  ambassador  of  the  emperors 
had  quietly  suppressed,  on  such,  occasions,  the 
haughty  message  he  had  previously  prepared. 

But  the  richest  decoration  of  this  imposing  hall 
was  formed  by  the  almost  innumerable  weapons 
of  every  sort  and  nation  which  covered  the  pillars 
and  walls,  while  shields  and  breastplates  were 
spread  out  horizontally  across  the  entire  ceiling. 
These  weapons  were  for  the  most  part  German, 
Roman,  and  Moorish,  but  specimens  were  not 
wanting  from  all  the  islands  and  coasts  which  the 
predatory  vessels  of  the  sea-king  had  been  able  to 
visit. 

A peculiar  dazzling  light  streamed  from  all  this 
bronze,  silver,  and  gold,  as  from  the  northwest  the 
oblique  rays  of  the  setting  sun  found  their  way 
into  the  hall. 


68 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


A broad  tab  le  of  white  marble  was  covered 
with  parchments  and  rolls  of  papyrus,  which  con- 
tained lists  of  the  thousands  and  the  hundreds, 
designs  for  ships,  maps  of  the  Vandal  kingdom, 
and  charts  of  the  bays  and  inlets  from  Cadiz  to 
the  Tyrrhenian  Sea. 

“ In  the  few  weeks  during  which  I have  been 
absent  in  the  West  for  the  purpose  of  enlisting 
the  Vandal  strength  in  that  quarter,  you  have 
accomplished  more  than  it  seems  possible,  Zaro,” 
said  the  king,  laying  down  a tablet  upon  which 
he  had  written  some  figures.  “ It  is  true  we  are 
far  from  reaching  the  number  and  strength  of  the 
ships  which  formerly  carried  the  terror  of  the 
Vandals  to  all  coasts.  But  for  the  defence  of  our 
own  shores,  and  for  repelling  a landing,  these  hun- 
dred and  fifty  vessels  will  suffice,  if  on  the  fleet 
and  on  the  shore,  as  a support,  we  have  a strong 
body  of  infantry.” 

“ Be  not  so  cast  down,  Gibamund,”  exclaimed 
Zaro.  “ Our  brother  knows  it  is  not  your  fault 
that  the  army  is  not — does  not — ” 

“Ah,”  cried  Gibamund,  angrily,  “ it  is  no  use! 
No  matter  how  much  I exert  myself,  they  are  not 
willing.  They  would  like  to  drink  and  bathe  and 
feast  and  ride,  watch  the  games  in  the  circus,  and 
in  that  accursed  Grove  of  Venus  indulge  in  every 


THE  LAST  OP  THE  FA  HEALS.  69 

sort  of  licentiousness  that  tends  to  destroy  their 
manhood/’ 

“ But,”  said  the  king,  “ yesterday  an  end  was 
put  to  this  abomination.” 

“You  can  do  much,  Gelimer,”  said  Zaro  with  a 
shake  of  the  head.  “You  have  accomplished 
what  seems  incredible  since  you  have  worn  this 
heavy  crown  ; but  to  purify  the  Grove  of  Venus — ” 
“ Not  to  purify,  to  close  it,”  interrupted  the 
king,  sternly.  “ Since  yesterday  it  has  been 
closed.” 

“ I must  again  make  complaint  against  many, 
especially  the  nobles,”  resumed  Gibamund.  “ They 
refuse  to  fight  on  foot  or  to  drill  with  the  foot- 
soldiers.  You  know  how  deficient  we  are  in  in- 
fantry. They  appeal  to  the  privileges  which  our 
weak  kings  have  conferred  upon  them.  They  say 
they  are  not  obligated  to  do  service  on  foot ; that 
Hilderic  permitted  every  Vandal  to  purchase  im- 
munity who  substituted  for  himself  two  enrolled 
Moorish  or  other  mercenaries.” 

“ I have  revoked  these  privileges.” 

“Yes,  we  know  that.  And  a fierce  sedition 
raged,  blood  flowed  on  this  account  through  the 
streets  of  Carthage  while  you  were  absent,”  said 
Zaro,  angrily. 

“ But  the  worst  of  it  is,  they  cannot  any  more 


70 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


fight  on  foot,  these  effeminate  nobles  and  wealthier 
citizens.  They  cannot,  they  say, — and  unfortu- 
nately it  is  true  ! — any  longer  bear  the  heavy  hel- 
mets, coats-of-mail,  shields  and  spears,  or  hurl 
the  mighty  javelins  which  I had  brought  from 
Geiseric’s  armories/' 

“ They  are  under  obligations  to  arm’themselves,” 
interposed  Zaro.  “ Why,  then — ” 

“ Because  most  of  them  have  sold  the  old,  vic- 
torious arms,  or  bartered  them  for  finery  or  wine 
or  dainty  food  or  female  slaves.  Or  else  they 
have  exchanged  them  for  weapons  which  serve 
merely  as  ornaments  or  toys.  With  such  rubbish 
I will  not  permit  any  one  to  enter  the  ranks.  And 
before  they  could  arm  themselves  satisfactorily, 
the  victory  and  our  kingdom  might  easily  be  lost. 
But  it  is  true  they  cannot  handle  Geiseric’s 
weapons.  They  grow  faint  after  a short  time,  and 
curse  us,  because  we  now,  in  * the  very  hottest 
months  of  the  year — ” 

“ Shall  we  inform  the  enemy  that  the  Vandals 
fight  only  in  winter  ?”  laughed  Zaro. 

“ In  order  to  fill  up  the  gaps  in  our  infantry  I 
have  already  enlisted  many  thousands  of  Moorish 
mercenaries,”  said  the  king,  sorrowfully.  “ With- 
out doubt  these  sons  of  the  desert,  quick-moving 
and  unstable  as  the  sands  of  their  home,  are  a poor 


THE  LAST  OF  THE.  VANDALS.  7 1 

substitute  for  the  steady  firmness  of  German 
strength.  Still  we  must  do  the  best  we  can,  and 
I have  gained  over  twenty  chiefs  with  about  ten 
thousand  men.M 

“Is  Cabaon  among  them — the  old  patriarch 
whose  years  no  man  can  tell  ?” 

“ No  ; he  withholds  his  answer.” 

“ That  is  unfortunate.  He  is  the  most  power- 
ful of  all.  And  his  supposed  gift  of  prophecy 
exerts  an  influence  far  beyond  the  people  of  his 
own  tribe,”  said  Zaro. 

“ Well,  we  shall  have  better  helpers  than  the 
Moorish  robbers,”  observed  Gibamund,  consol- 
ingly: “ the  valiant  Visigoths  in  Southern  Spain.” 

“ Have  you  received  an  answer  from  their  king  ?” 
“Yes  and  no.  King  Theudis  is  a wise  and 
prudent  man.  I did  not  leave  the  matter  to 
Verus,  but  wrote  to  him  myself.  I impressed^ 
upon  him  urgently  that  Byzantium  is  threatening 
not  us  Vandals  alone,  and  with  what  ease  the  im- 
perial troops  could  cross  the  narrow  sea  from 
Ceuta,  if  they  should  subdue  us.  Then  I proposed 
a mutual  alliance.  His  answer  was  evasive : he 
must  first  convince  himself  what  we  for  our  part 
can  do  in  war.” 

“ How  will  he  manage  that  ?”  asked  Zaro. 

“ Will  he  hold  off  until  the  war  has  run  its  course  ? 


72 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


Whether  we  are  victorious  or  annihilated,  we  shall 
not  then  need  his  aid.” 

“ I wrote  again,  more  urgently.  His  *reply  must 
soon  come  to  hand.” 

And  the  Ostrogoths  ?”  demanded  Gibamund, 
eagerly.  “ What  answer  do  they  give  ?” 

“ None.’* 

“ That  is  bad,”  said  Gibamund. 

“I  wrote  to  the  queen  regent.  I referred  to 
the  fact  that  I was  innocent  of  all  participation  in 
Hilderic’s  atrocious  crime.  I warned  her  that 
Justinian  threatens  her  realm  not  less  than  ours, 
and  reminded  her  of  the  near  relationship  of  our 
peoples — ” 

“ You  surely  did  not  descend  to  entreaties?” 
asked  Zaro,  indignantly. 

“ By  no  means.  I asked  for  nothing,  but 
demanded  only,  and  with  good  right,  that  the 
Ostrogoths  should  not  support  our  enemies.  As 
yet  there  is  no  response.  But  worse  by  far  than 
the  lack  of  allies  is  the  foolish  and  immeasurable 
underrating  of  our  opponents  on  the  part  of  our 
own  people,”  added  the  king. 

“ That  is  true.  They  say : Why  need  we  trouble 
ourselves  with  preparations  and  drill  ? The  cow- 
ardly Greeks  will  not  dare  to  attack  us.  If  they 
do  come,  then  the  descendants  pf  Geiseric  will  des- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 73 

troy  the  descendants  of  Basilikos,  just  as  Geiseric 
crushed  Basilikos.” 

, “ But  we  are  no  longer  the  Vandals  of  Geiseric’s 
time,”  lamented  Gelimer.  “ Geiseric  brought  with 
him  an  army  of  heroes,  trained  by  twenty  years 
of  warfare  with  other  Germans  and  with  the 
Romans  among  the  mountains  of  Spain,  simple  in 
their  habits  and  strict  in  their  morals0  He  closed 
the  Roman  pleasure-houses  in  Carthage  ; he  forced 
all  dissolute  women  either  to  marry  or  to  enter  a 
convent — ” 

“How  that  suited  their  husbands  and  the  nuns 
who  were  forced  to  associate  with  them  is  not 
stated,”  laughed  Zaro. 

“And  now!  Our  young  men  to-day  are  as 
corrupt  as  the  most  licentious  Romans.  To  the 
cruelty  of  their  fathers” — here  the  king  sighed 
deeply — “ has  succeeded  the  sensuality,  the  glut- 
tony, the  drunkenness,  the  utter  and  wanton  in- 
dolence of  the  sons.  How  can  such  a people  con- 
tinue to  exist  ? It  certainly  must  perish.” 

“ But  Asdings,”  said  Gibamund  with  flashing 
eyes,  drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  while 
a glow  of  pride  suffused  his  handsome  face,  “ we 
are  unspotted  by  such  disgrace.” 

“ Pray  what  have  you  and  we  been  guilty  of,” 
asked  Zaro,  “that  we  should  perish  before  our 
time  ?” 


74  the  last  of  the  vandals , 

Again  the  king  sighed  heavily,  his  brow  clouded, 
and  he  cast  down  his  eyes.  ,7Ve  ? Do  we  not 
bear  the  curse,  the — But  no  ! nothing  of  that ; 
nothing,  at  least,  to  you.  It  is  the  last  straw  of  my 
hope  that  I,  the  king,  at  least  wear  the  crown  free 
from  guilt.  Woe  to  me  if  my  conscience  were 
not  clear  in  this  respect ! — Ha!  whose  cold  hand 
is  this?  You,  Verus?  You  frightened  me.” 

“ He  creeps  in  as  stealthily  as  a snake  !”  mum- 
bled Zaro  in  his  beard. 

The  priest,  who,  even  as  chancellor,  continued  to 
wear  his  priestly  robes,  had  entered  unperceived 
by  all.  None  of  the  brothers  had  any  means  of 
knowing  how  long  he  had  been  present.  His  eye 
was  now  fixed  steadily  upon  Gelimer.  With  a 
quiet  movement  he  drew  back  the  hand  which  he 
had  laid  upon  the  king’s  bare  arm. 

“ Yes,  my  sovereign,  keep  ever  active  this  anxi- 
ety of  conscience.  Guard  well  your  soul  from  guilt. 
I know  your  nature — it  would  crush  you  with 
despair.” 

“ You  ought  not  thus,”  spoke  Zaro^angrily,  “ to 
fill  my  brother’s  mind  with  gloomy  thoughts.” 

“ Guilt  and  Gelimer !”  exclaimed  Gibamund, 
clasping  his  arm  around  his  brother’s  neck. 

“ He  is  altogether  too  conscientious,  too  much 
addicted  to  brooding,”  continued  Zaro.  “You 


TJLE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  75 

also,  Gelimer,  are  no  longer  like  the  Vandals  of 
Geiseric.  You,  too,  are  infected,  not  by  Roman 
vices,  but  by  Roman  or  Greek  or  Christian  subtle- 
ties. What  shall  I call  them— gnosticism,  the- 
osophy, mysticism  ? Which  is  the  most  respectful 
name  ? I confess  I do  not  know,  for  to  my  mind 
they  all  have  little  meaning,  How  glad  I am  our 
father  did  not  entrust  my  education  also  to  the 
philosophers  and  priests ! Ah  ! he  noticed  early 
that  the  helmet  alone  was  suited  to  Zaro’s  thick 
skull,  and  the  stylus  would  not  stick  behind  his 
ear.  But  you  indeed ! I always  felt  as  if  I were 
entering  a dungeon,  when  I visited  you  in  your 
gloomy,  high-walled  monastery.  Many,  many 
years  have  you  dreamed  away  and  lost  there 
among  your  books.” 

“ They  were  not  lost,”  replied  Gibamund. 
“ Did  he  not  also  find  time  to  become  the  first 
hero  of  his  people  ? On  him  rest  the  hopes  of  the 
Vandals.” 

“ Upon  the  whole  house  of  the  Asdings ; we 
have  not  degenerated,”  spoke  the  king.  “ But 
can  a single  family,  even  though  it  be  the  ruling 
one,  stay  the  downfall  of  an  entire  people,  or  raise 
a sinking  nation^” 

“ Hardly,”  said  the  priest  with  a shake  of  the 
head.  “ For  who  can  say  for  himself  that  he  is 


76  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

free  from  guilt  ? And,”  he  added  slowly,  sud- 
denly raising  his  eyes  and  fixing  them  full  upon 
Gelimer,  “ the  sins  of  the  fathers — ” 

“ Stop !”  cried  the  king,  with  a moan  as  if  in 
deep  suffering.  “Not  this  thought  now — wher 
I must  act,  direct,  plan.  It  cripples  me.”  Anc 
he  pressed  his  hand  to  his  forehead. 

“ In  the  present  also,”  continued  Verus,  “ the 
sins  of  the  people  are  altogether  too  great. 
They  cry  aloud  to  Heaven  for  vengeance.  Just 
now  I had  to  go  to  administer  consolation  to  a 
dying  man — ” 

“ Even  as  chancellor  of  the  realm,”  said  Geli- 
mer, turning  towards  his  brothers,  “ he  does  not 
forget  the  duties  of  the  priest.” 

“ When  near  the  southern  gate,  there  came  once 
more  to  my  ears  from  that  grove  of  all  sins  the 
revolting  sounds  of  drunken  revelry.  Lascivious 
songs — ” 

“ What !”  the  king  exclaimed  angrily  and  struck 
the  marble  table  with  his  fist.  “ Do  they  dare 
defy  my  orders?  Did  I not  command  before  my 
departure  for  Hippo  that  all  these  games  and 
feasts  should  cease  ? Did  I not  name  yesterday 
as  the  positive  limit  of  time  whei?the  grove  must 
be  vacated  and  the  pleasure-houses  closed  ? I sent 
thither  three  hundred  lancers  to  see  that  my 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  77 

commands  were  executed.  What  are  they  do- 
ing?” 

“ In  so  far  as  they  do  not  join  in  the  dancing 
and  the  drinking,  they  fall  asleep,  tired  out  by 
pleasure  and-  stupefied  by  the  wine  which  they, 
like  all  the  rest,  obtain  there.  I saw  a company 
of  them  lying  asleep  under  the  archway  of  the 
gate.” 

“Then  terrible  shall  be  their  wakening !”  cried 
the  king.  “ Are  our  sins  indeed  about  to  de- 
vour us  ?” 

“ The  evil  of  that  grove  seems  to  be  incurable,” 
said  Zaro. 

“ What  the  sword  cannot  cure,  fire  will,”  threat- 
ened the  King.  “ I will  burst  upon  them  like  the 
wrath  of  God.  Follow  me,  my  brothers !”  and 
he  rushed  from  the  room. 

“ Summon  quickly  a couple  of  hundred  horse- 
men Gibamund,”  advised  Zaro,  as  the  brothers 
hurried  after  the  king.  “ The  royal  guard  under 
the  faithful  Markomer.  For  the  Vandals  no 
longer  obey  the  king’s  word,  unless  at  the  same 
time  they  see  the  gleam  of  the  king’s  steel.” 

With  a slow  step,  slightly  nodding  his  head 
from  time  to  time  and  whispering  softly  to  him- 
self, the  archdeacon  followed  the  three  Asdings. 


78 


THE  LAST  OF  THR  VANDALS. 


X. 

While  the  lower  city  of  Carthage  extended  on 
the  north  to  the  harbor,  directly  outside  of  its  south- 
ern gate,  and  occupying  a space  of  about  two 
leagues  in  length  and  one  in  width,  lay  the  so- 
called  “ Grove  of  Venus,”  or  “ Grove  of  the  Holy 
Virgin.”  Far  back  in  the  old  pagan  times  it  had 
been  a place  set  apart  for  the  riotous  practice 
of  every  voluptuous  and  wanton  pleasure,  until 
throughout  the  whole  Roman  Empire  the  epithet 
“ African  ” became  a synonym  for  unbounded 
excess. 

The  whole  of  this  portion  of  the  coast,  satu- 
rated by  the  moisture  from  the  sea-wind,  had 
originally  been  covered  with  thick  forests.  The 
larger  part  of  these  had  long  since  been  forced  to 
yield  to  the  expanding  city;  but  a considerable 
tract  had  been  preserved  by  command  of  the 
emperors,  and,  several  centuries  before,  had  been 
transformed  into  a superb  park,  laid  out  with  all 
the  taste  and  all  the  extravagance  of  the  time  of 
the  Csesars. 

The  predominating  feature  in  the  landscape  of 
this  park  was  formed  by  the  date-palms,  which 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  NEALS. 


79 


had  been  introduced  by  the  Phoenicians.  This 
queen  of  the  desert,  the  Arabians  say,  loves  to 
plunge  its  feet  into  the  moist  sand  and  its  head 
into  the  very  fire  of  the  sun.  These  palms  had 
thrived  here  magnificently,  and  in  their  hundred 
years  of  growth  had  lifted  their  slender,  pillar- 
like  trunks  to  a height  of  fifty  feet.  No  ray  of 
sunlight  could  penetrate  directly  through  the  roof 
formed  by  the  bending  leaves  of  their  green 
crowns,  which  rustled  and  swayed  gently  in  the 
wind,  inviting  and  lulling  all  who  came  within 
their  influence  to  dreamy  revery  and  sleep.  How- 
ever, they  stood  at  sufficient  intervals  apart  for 
the  light  and  the  air  to  find  free  admission  from 
the  side,  while  lower  trees,  like  the  dwarf  palm, 
and  bushes  and  flowers,  grew  in  profusion  be- 
neath the  shade  of  the  lofty  tops. 

In  addition  to  the  palms,  the  hand  of  man 
first,  and  afterwards  luxuriant  nature,  had  planted 
and  nourished  here  many  other  noble  trees — the 
plane-tree  with  its  glistening  bark,  the  cypress,  the 
laurel,  the  olive,  which  loves  the  salt  breath  of 
the  sea,  the  quince  with  its  fragrant  fruit,  the 
pomegranate,  here  so  thoroughly  domesticated 
that  it  was  called  “ the  Carthaginian  apple 
while  figs,  apricots,  peaches,  almonds,  chestnuts 
oleanders,  and  myrtles,  partly  as  tall  trunks  am 


Bo 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 


partly  as  bushes,  formed  the  undergrowth  of  this 
magnificent  palm-forest. 

The  art  of  landscape  gardening,  which  in  the 
time  of  the  Caesars  had  attained  a perfection 
that  has  scarcely  since  been  equalled,  combined 
with  the  abundant  irrigation  afforded  by  an  elab- 
orate system  of  aqueducts  and  water-courses,  had 
brought  forth  here,  on  the  verge  of  the  so-called 
desert,  wonders  of  beauty,  above  all  a luxuriant, 
thick  green  turf,  which  even  in  the  hottest  days  of 
summer  showed  scarcely  any  dried  patches. 

From  time  to  time  the  wind  had  wafted  the 
seeds  from  the  numerous  flower-beds,  and  now, 
scattered  everywhere  through  the  grass,  the  flow- 
ers shone  forth  in  all  the  brilliant  colors  with 
which  the  African  sun  loves  to  paint  them. 

The  flower-beds  themselves,  whigh  were  distrib- 
uted through  the  entire  park,  suffered  somewhat 
in  appearance  from  a certain  monotony.  The 
great  diversity  which  decorates  our  modern  gar- 
dens was  here  lacking.  Roses,  lilies,  narcissuses, 
violets,  and  anemones  were  almost  the  only 
species  present,  but  these  were  in  rich  variety, 
of  peculiar  and  artistically  produced  colors,  and 
often  brought  to  bloom  before  or  after  their 
natural  time.  Effect  was  sought  to  be  gained  by 
eaping  together  huge  masses  of  the  same  kind 


8i 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

or  color.  Thus  the  great  beds  of  white  or  red 
lilies  often  extended  for  a hundred  paces  in  lerigth 
or  breadth.  From  their  swelling  cups,  as  the  warm 
wind  passed  over  them,  came  a sweet,  but  too 
powerful,  an  almost  cloying  fragrance. 

Amid  this  world  of  trees,  bushes,  and  flowers, 
the  emperors,  who  in  former  times  had  often  re- 
sided here,  the  governors,  and  still  more  fre- 
quently the  richer  inhabitants  of  Carthage,  had 
caused  to  be  erected  almost  incredible  number 
of  buildings  of  every  sort.  or  centuries  pa- 
triotism, a sense  of  duty,  and  often  mere  osten- 
tation and  vanity,  had  prompted  the  wealthier 
citizens  to  keep  alive  the  remembrance  of  their 
names  by  decorative  monuments,  pleasure-gar- 
dens, and  buildings  designed  for  public  use.  This 
feeling  of  local  pride  and  patriotism  had  by  no 
means  become  extinct.  The  military  highway 
which  traversed  the  grove  from  north  to  south 
was  now  bordered  on  both  sides  by  costly  sepul- 
chres with  only  short  spaces  between  them.  Be- 
yond these,  and  scattered  throughout  the  whole 
extent  of  the  park,  were  baths,  ponds,  small  lakes 
with  marble  quays  and  elegant  pleasure-boats, 
circuses,  amphitheatres,  race-courses,  open  por- 
ticos, and  "temples  with  their  subsidiary  buildings. 

As  the  grove  had  been  originally  consecrated  to 


82 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


Aphrodite,  or  Venus,  the  statues  of  this  goddess 
and  those  of  Cupid  were  everywhere  the  most 
numerous.  Christian  zeal,  however,  had  knocked 
off  the  head,  the  nose,  and  the  breasts  from  many 
a Venus,  and  only  in  rare  cases  had  left  Cupid's 
bow  unbroken.  Some  of  the  heathen  temples, 
too,  since  the  time  of  Constantine  had  been  con- 
verted into  Christian  oratories  and  churches,  but 
by  no  means  all ; and  many  of  these  temples  with- 
drawn from  the  services  of  the  pagan  religion,  yet 
not  devoted  to  the  Christian,  had  become,  with 
their  gardens  and  grottos,  resorts  for  drunkenness, 
gambling,  and  still  more  glaring  vices.  The  gods 
had  been  driven  out,  and  the  demons  had  slipped 
in. 

Among  the  hundred  or  more  buildings  in  the 
grove,  two  were  especially  prominent  in  popular 
favor.  Both  were  situated  near  the  southern  gate 
bf  the  city  and  were  in  close  proximity  to  each 
other.  They  were  the  “ Old  Circus  ” and  the 
“ Amphitheatre  of  Theodosius." 

The  “ Old  Circus"  had  been  built  when  Carthage 
was  at  the  height  of  its  prosperity,  and  the  vast 
structure,  with  its  eighty  thousand  seats,  had  been 
arranged  according  to  the  requirements  of  that 
populous  epoch.  But  since  the  Vandal  conquest 
many  Roman  families  had  emigrated  or  had  been 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


83 


banished,  so  that  at  the  time  of  our  narrative 
whole  rows  of  seats  were  left  unoccupied.  The 
rich  bronze  ornamentation  with  which  the  struc- 
ture had  been  adorned  had  in  many  places  been 
broken  off  and  carried  away;  not,  however,  by  the 
Vandals,  but  by  the  Roman  inhabitants  of  the  city 
and  by  the  peasants  of  the  vicinity. 

The  tiers  of  marble  seats  rose  from  within  in  the 
manner  of  an  amphitheatre  and  rested  upon  a 
high-vaulted  substructure  of  granite.  On  the  out- 
side the  circus  was  surrounded  by  arcades  with  nu- 
merous entrances  and  flights  of  steps,  besides  the 
niches  which  served  as  shops,  taverns,  bakeries, 
fruit-stalls,  and  dining-rooms.  Here  continually, 
•day  and  night,  lounged  a crowd  of  disorderly  peo- 
ple, while  from  some  of  the  larger  spaces,  which 
were  shut  off  by  curtains  from  the  gaze  of  the 
passers-by,  "came  the  sound  of  cymbals,  small 
kettle-drums,  and  castanets,  announcing  that  for 
a couple  of  copper  coins  admittance  could  be  had 
to  the  performances  of  Syrian  and  Egyptian  danc- 
ing  girls. 


84 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


XI. 

THE  sultry  heat  of  an  African  summer  day  still 
rendered  the  air  of  the  grove  oppressive,  although 
the  sun  had  long  since  sunk  into  the  sea,  and  the 
short  twilight  prevailing  here  had  faded  into  dark- 
ness.  Already  the  full  moon  was  rising  above  the 
tops  of  the  palms,  and  was  pouring  its  magic  light 
upon  woodland,  meadow,  and  lake,  upon  the  white 
or  light-colored  stonework  of  the  buildings,  and 
upon  the  marble  statues  which  gleamed  with  an 
almost  fantastic  beauty  amid  the  dark  green  set- 
ting of  the  shrubbery. 

In  the  more  remote  parts  of  the  grove  no  dis- 
cordant features  marred  the  peaceful  influence  of 
this  soft,  silvery  moonlight  ; a deep  and  solemn 
stillness  prevailed,  broken  only  from  time  to  time 
by  the  call  of  some  night-bird.  But  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  gate,  from  the  two  principal  build- 
ings, from  the  lawns  and  the  gardens  surrounding 
them,  arose  a confused  noise  from  many  thousands 
of  revellers.  All  the  instruments  with  which  the 
musical  art  of  the  time  was  acquainted  were  send- 
ing forth  sounds  without  regard  to  concert  or 
harmony,  each  apparently  endeavoring  to  make 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA JVEALS.  85 

itself  heard  above  the  din  of  the  rest.  Cries  of 
delight,  of  intoxication,  of  angry  altercation,  broke 
forth  in  Latin,  Greek,  Moorish,  and  especially  in 
the  Vandal  tongue.  For  perhaps  the  greatest 
number  and  unquestionably  the  noisiest  part  of 
the  “ guests  of  the  Grove,”  as  these  devotees  of 
pleasure  termed  themselves,  belonged  to  the  ruling 
race,  which  here  riotously  satisfied  at  once  its 
desire  and  its  capacity  for  enjoyment. 

From  the  direction  of  the  southern  gate  of  the 
city,  along  the  broad  road,  two  men  were  advanc- 
ing towards  the  circus.  They  were  clad  in  strictly 
German  dress — a circumstance  which  attracted 
not  a little  attention.  For  almost  all  the  Vandals, 
except  the  royal  line,  either  had  exchanged  the 
German  garb  and  arms  for  the  Roman,  or,  from 
convenience,  effeminacy,  or  desire  for  ornament, 
had  at  least  adopted  some  Roman  features.  But 
these  two  men  wore  regular  German  cloaks  and 
helmets,  and  carried  distinctively  German  arms. 

“ What  an  uproar ! What  crowding  and  push- 
ing!” said  the  elder  of  the  two,  a man  of  middle 
height,  who  with  keen  glances  observed  all  that 
was  going  on  around  him. 

“ And  it  is  not  the  Romans,”  replied  the  other, 
“ who  are  the  most  boisterous  and  turbulent,  but 
our  worthy  cousins.” 


86 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


“ Was  I not  right,  friend  Theudigisel?  Here, 
among  the  people  themselves,  we  shall  learn  in  one 
night  more  that  serves  our  purpose  than  we  could 
gain  in  a correspondence  of  many  months  with 
this  book-learned  king.” 

“ It  is  scarcely  credible,  although  we  see  it  here 
before  our  eyes.,, 

Just  then  their  attention  was  attracted  by  the 
loud  tones  of  voices  behind  them.  Two  negroes, 
naked  except  for  a short  apron  of  peacock’s  feath- 
ers, worn  about  the  loins,  and  each  swinging  a 
golden  staff  around  his  curly  head,  sought  to  clear 
a path  for  a small  procession  that  followed. 

“ Make  way !”  they  cried  repeatedly,  “ make 
way  for  the  noble  Modigisel !” 

But  they  did  not  succeed  in  penetrating  the 
throng ; their  cries  simply  attracted  a greater 
crowd  of  the  curious.  Therefore  the  eight 
similarly  clad,  or,  more  strictly  speaking,  unclad 
Moors  who  came  after  them  were  compelled  to 
set  down  their  burden,  a richly-gilded,  half-open 
litter.  It  had  a back  formed  from  small  purple 
cushions  joined  together  and  held  in  place  by 
cross-pieces  of  ivory,  from  the  ends  of  which 
waved  the  feathers  of  the  ostrich  and  flamingo. 

“ Say,  my  friend,”  spoke  the  younger  of  the 
two  strangers,  turning  to  the  occupant  of  the 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANbALS.  8? 

litter,  a blond-haired  Vandal  of  perhaps  twenty- 
seven  years  of  age,  who  was  dressed  in  white  silk, 
brilliantly  adorned  with  gold  and  jewels,  “ do  you 
have  as  merry  a time  as  this  every  night  here  ?” 

The  man  addressed  was  evidently  astonished 
that  any  one  should  have  the  audacity  to  accost 
him  so  unceremoniously.  He  opened  with  an 
effort  two  sleepy  eyes  and  turned  to  his  com- 
panion— for  now  there  was  visible  beside  him  a 
young  woman  of  extraordinary,  but  almost  too 
voluptuous  beauty.  So  extravagantly  was  she 
adorned  with  jewelry  that  a dull  yellow  shimmer 
seemed  to  overlay  her  fair  white  skin.  The  ex- 
pression of  her  faultlessly  regular,  but  sphinx-like 
countenance,  that  bore  in  it  no  trace  of  human 
sympathy  or  moral  worth,  was*  that  of  an  easily 
wearied,  but  still  unsated  sensuality.  She  resem- 
bled a wondrously  beautiful,  but  capricious  and 
treacherous  animal.  The  personal  charms  of 
such  a woman  possessed  an  overmastering  power 
to  dazzle  and  to  fascinate,  but  could  not  awaken 
love  ; just  as  the  golden  chains,  circlets,  rings, 
and  ornamental  plates  which  jier  Junncian  form 
displayed  beneath  the  scanty  drapery  she  wore, 
served  rather  to  attract  attention  than  to  enhance 
the  effect  of  her  beauty. 

“ Oh — ah  ! — I say — Astarte  ! ” drawled  her 


88  THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  . 

♦ 

companion  in  a tone  so  languid  that  only  long 
practice  could  have  enabled  him  to  acquire  it — 
for  he  had  heard  from  a Greek  exquisite  from 
Byzantium  that  it  was  good  form  to  speak  in  such 
a voice.  “ Scarecrows — both  of  them — aren’t 
they  ?”  And  he  pushed  back,  sighing  at  the 
exertion  required,  the  thick  wreath  of  roses  which 
had  slipped  from  his  brow  down  over  his  eyes. 
“ It  is  thus  they  describe  Geiseric  and  his'  gray- 
beards.  J ust  see — ah  ! — one  of  them  has  a mantle 
of  wolf-skins  ! The  other  carries — in  the  Grove  of 
Venus — a heavy  spear!  You  ought- — yonder — 
in  the  circus — to  exhibit  yourselves  for  money, 
monsters.” 

The  younger  of  the  strangers  started  angrily, 
and  clutched  the  handle  of  his  sword.  “If  you 
knew  to  whom — ” But  the  older  man  motioned  to 
him  to  be  silent.^ 

“You  must  certainly  have  come  from  a dis- 
tance,” continued,  the  Vandal,  somewhat  aroused 
from  his  languor  by  the  appearance  of  the 
strangers,  “ that  you  ask  such  questions.  In  this 
grove  of  the  love-goddess  one  night  is  much  like 
another.  Only  now  it  is  a little  merrier  than 
usual.  The  richest  of  our  nobles  celebrates  his 
marriage  to-night,  and  he  has  invited  all  Carthage 
to  be  present.” 


89 


THE  LAST  OF  TILE  VANDALS. 

Here  the  voluptuous  beauty  at  his  side  raised 
herself  a little.  “ Why  do  you  waste  time  in  talk- 
ing with  these  rough  satyrs  ? See,  the  lake  is 
already  aglow  with  red  light ! The  voyage  of  the 
galleys  is  beginning.  I wish  to  see  the  handsome 
Thrasaric.” 

At  this  name  her  expressionless  features  became 
for  a moment  animated,  and  the  great,  dark,  im- 
penetrable eyes  cast  an  eager  glance  into  the 
distance  ; then  the  long  lashes  drooped  again  and 
she  sank  back  once  more  upon  the  cushions. 
Her  deep  black  hair  rose  from  the  crown  of  her 
head  to  the  height  of  more  that  two  hand-breadths, 
and  was  encircled  by  five  golden  bands  joined 
together  by  small  silver  chains.  But  this  luxuri- 
ant growth,  by  reason  of  the  coarseness  and  stiff- 
ness of  each  single  hair,  resembled  somewhat  too 
closely  the  mane  of  a superb  horse. 

“ Will  you  not,”  cried  her  companion  in  a voice 
so  energetic  that  its  former  feeble  drawl  was 
shown  to  have  been  pure  affectation — “ will  you 
not,  Astarte,  you  insatiate  creature,  be  content 
for  the  present  with  the  less  handsome  Modigi- 
sel?  Later,  of  course,  we  can — change.  You  are 
getting  too  bold  since  your  emancipation.” 

And  he  gave  her  a thrust  in  the  side  with  his 
elbow.  It  was  meant  to  be  affectionate,  but  the 


go  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

■t 

Carthaginian  curled  slightly  her  upper  lip  so  that 
her  small,  sharp,  white  teeth  became  visible. 
Trifling  as  the  movement  was,  it  reminded  one  of 
the  great  cat-like  animals  of  her  native  land, 
especially  as  at  the  same  time  her  eyes  contracted 
like  those  of  an  irritated  tiger,  and  her  superbly 
chiselled  head  was  slightly  lifted,  as  if  silently 
threatening  a future  revenge. 

Modigisel  had  not  noticed  it.  “I  obey  my 
divine  mistress,”  he  drawled  again  in  his  foppish 
voice.  “ Forward!”  And  since  the  poor  blacks 
— so  perfectly  had  he  struck  the  fashionable  tone 
— really  had  not  understood  him,  he  now  bellowed 
like  a bull,  “ Forward,  you  dogs,  I say !”  And 
with  a force  that  was  scarcely  to  be  looked  for  in 
the  rose-crowned  coxcomb,  he  struck  with  his  fist 
the  nearest  slave  and  knocked  him  off  his  feet. 
Without  a word  the  man  arose,  and  with  the 
seven  others  grasped  the  gilded  pole  and  bore  the 
litter  on  through  the  throng. 

“Did  you  see  her?”  said  the  younger  stranger 
to  the  one  with  the  wolf-skin  mantle. 

“Yes;  she  is  like  a black  panther,  or  like  this 
land — beautiful,  fiery,  malignant,  and  deadly. 
Come,  Theudigisel.  Let  us  also  go  to  the  lake. 
The  most  of  the  Vandals  are  assembling  there, 
and  we  can  learn  what  we  desire,  Here  across 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  9 1 

the  grass  is  a foot-path  that  seems  to  be  shorter 
than  the  road.” 

“ Take  care  ; do  not  stumble,  my  lord.  What  is 
that  lying  there — right  across  the  path  ?” 

“A  soldier — in  full  armor  too — a Vandal.” 

“ And  sound  asleep.  In  the  midst  of  all  this 
noise  !” 

“He  must  be  very  drunk!”  And  the  elder 
man  poked  the  sleeper  with  the  butt-end  of  his 
spear.  “Who  are  you,  fellow?” 

“ I ? — I ?”  The  man  thus  rudely  awakened 

raised  himself  on  his  elbow  and  seemed  to  be 
anxiously  racking  his  brains.  “ I believe  I am 
— Gunthamund — Guntharic’s  son.” 

“ What  are  you  doing  here  ?” 

“ You  see  I am  keeping  guard:  What  are  you 

laughing  at  ? I keep  watch  that  in  the  Grove  no 
more — But  where  are  the  others  ? Haven’t  you 
any  wine  ? I am  fearfully  thirsty.”  And  he  sank 
back  on  the  tall,  soft  grass. 

“ These,  then,  are  the  guards  of  the  Vandals! 
Do  you  still  give  the  same  counsel,  valiant  duke, 
as  you  gave  before — beyond  the  sea  ?” 

With  a shake  of  his  head  the  other  followed  in 
silence. 


92 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS, 


XII. 

On  the  southern  shore  of  the  lake,  directly  op- 
posite the  marble  haven  in  which  the  sheet  of 
water  terminated,  a broad  staging  had  been 
erected  for  invited  guests,  a balcony,  extending 
out  over  the  lake  and  decorated  with  purple  silk, 
being  reserved  for  the  most  distinguished. 

Suddenly  the  soft  moonlight  which  lay  upon 
the  surface  of  the  water  was  changed  into  a brill- 
iant red  light,  that  lasted  for  about  a minute. 
As  it  died  out,  a blue  one  flamed  up  in  its  stead, 
then  a green,  bringing  into  clear  view  the  groups 
of  spectators  on  the  shore,  the  white  marble 
buildings  in  the  distance,  the  statues  among  the 
shrubbery,  and  above  all  the  surface  of  the  lake, 
with  the  rich  and  astonishing  pageant  which  was 
ther^  presented. 

From  the  haven,  behind  whose  high  walls  they 
had  hitherto  remained  concealed,  glided,  to  the 
music  of  flutes  and  the  clang  of^cymbals,  a whole 
flotilla  of  boats,  barges,  and  galleys  of  every  sort. 
Ten,  twenty — soon  there  were  fifty  vessels,  fan- 
tastically shaped,  some  as  dolphins,  sea-dogs,  or 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  93 

gigantic  water-fowl,  and  many  as  dragons,  the 
banner-emblem  of  the  Vandals. 

Masts,  yards,  sails,  the  high,  pointed  prows,  as 
well  as  the  upper  gprt  of  the  oar-handles,  were 
twined  round,  almost  to  complete  concealment, 
with  garlands  of  flowers,  with  broad,  variegated 
ribbons,  and  with  gold  and  silver  fringe.  Costly 
carpets  covered  the  entire  deck  and  extended 
down  over  the  stern  into  the  water,  streaming  out 
behind  as  the  ships  moved  along. 

Grouped  about  the  mast,  or  arranged  upon  the 
upper  deck  of  every  Vessel,  was  a picturesque 
tableau,  formed  by  Vandal  men,  young  maidens, 
and  handsome  boys.  Male  and  female  slaves, 
white,  yellow,  and  black,  poured  forth  unmixed 
wine  from  richly-ornamented  pitchers, which,  with- 
out spilling  and  without  appearance  of  unusual 
exertion,  they  carried  around  upon  their  heads. 

Thus  the  gayly-decorated  boats  glided  out  into 
the  red  glow  on  the  surface  of  the  lake.  And 
now  through  their  midst  a pathway  opened,  and 
the  great  wedding-galley  came  in  sight,  moving, 
as  it  seemed,  without  oarage,  and  far  surpassing 
all  the  rest  in  fantastic  and  extravagant  splen- 
dor. It  was  drawn  along  apparently  only  by  eight 
superb  swans,  which  were  linked  together  in  pairs 
by  golden  chains  attached  to  their  necks.  These 


94  THE  last  of  the  vandals. 

creatures,  evidently  trained  for  this  purpose  with 
the  utmost  care,  gave  no  heed  to  the  noise  and 
the  light  around  them,  but  directed  their  course 
with  majestic  ease  straigh^toward  the  balustrade 
on  the  southern  shore. 

The  deck  of  the  galley  was  strewn  a foot  deep 
with  roses.  About  the  mast  an  open  arbor  was 
arranged  from  branches  of  the  natural  vine.  In 
this  arbor  lay  the  huge  bridegroom,  a Hercules  al- 
most seven  feet  in  height, with  his  thick,  shaggy  red 
hair  crowned  with  red  roses  and  grape-leaves.  A 
panther’s  skin  covered  the  upper  part  of  his  body, 
a purple  cloth  was  girt  about  his  loins,  his  great 
right  hand,  which  hung  down  limp  at  his  side, 
grasped  a thyrsus.  Clinging  close  to  his  mighty 
breast  was  the  slender,  almost  child-like  form  of 
a young  girl. 

Her  countenance  could  not  be  seen ; for, 
scarcely  in  keeping  with  her  role  of  the  abandoned 
Ariadne,  she  had  fastened  the  Roman  bridal-veil 
upon  her  hair.  The  noise  seemed  to  terrify  her. 
Shyly  she  concealed  her  head  under  the  panther’s 
skin  upon  the  giant’s  breast.  Only  from  time  to 
time  she  cast  a quick,  furtive  glance  upward,  seek- 
ing to  catch  his  eye;  but  he  did  not  see  her.  For 
a naked  boy  of  about  twelve  years,  with  golden 
wings  upon  his  shoulders  and  a bow  and  quiver 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


95 


fastened  to  his  back  by  a golden  band,  kept  filling 
for  the  bridegroom  a huge  drinking-cup,  and  the 
latter  seemed  “to  think  that  the  costume  he  wore 
demanded  that  he  should  drain  it  every  time  at  a 
draught— a performance  which  distracted  his  at- 
tention from  his  bride  more  than  was  strictly 
commendable. 

Upon  a pillow,  placed  somewhat  above  the 
bridal  pair,  reposed,  in  a picturesque  attitude,  a 
beautiful  maiden  of  about  eighteen  years,  her  head 
supported  on  her  left  hand,  and  her  golden-brown 
hair  arranged  simply  in  a Grecian  knot.  She  was 
incomparably  more  beautiful  than  the  Carthagin- 
ian Astarte,  both  in  the  faultless  symmetry  of  her 
Grecian  figure  and  in  the  refined  purity  of  her 
noble  face.  Two  tame  white  doves  sat  upon  her 
right  shoulder.  She  wore  a white  garment  that 
extended  down  below  her  knee,  serving,  however, 
more  for  adornment  than  for  vesture.  The  thin 
silken  material  was  held  together  upon  her  hips  by 
an  elaborately  wrought  golden  girdle,  from  which 
hung  a Phoenician  purple  apron,  ornamented  with 
golden  tassels.  Her  sandals  rested  upon  a mass 
of  stiff  white  and  gray  silk,  disposed  so  as  to  rep- 
resent the  waves  of  the  sea,  and  coming  up  around 
the  ankles  of  the  “Toam-born  goddess.” 

When  the  ship,  drawn  along  by  its  swans,  came 


96 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


in  full  sight  of  the  thousands  of  assembled  specta- 
tors, a deafening  shout  of  applause  greeted  the 
brilliant  pageant.  As,  however,  it  glided  out  into 
the  clear  light,  the  Venus  impulsively  and  as  if  in 
desperation  sought  to  conceal  herself.  Grasping  a 
large  piece  of  coarse  sail-cloth  which,  lay  beside 
her,  she  drew  it  over  her,  covering  herself  with  it 
as  far  as  possible. 

“ How  barbaric  is  the  whole  display !”  whispered 
below  the  staging,  on  the  shore  opposite  the  haven, 
one  Roman  to  another,  in  the  harsh  guttural  tones 
that  characterized  the  African  Latin. 

“ That  is  supposed  to  be  a representation  of 
Bacchus,  neighbor  Laurus.” 

“ And  Ariadne.” 

“The  Venus  would  please  me  better.” 

“ I suppose  so,  friend  Victor.  It  is  the  beauti- 
ful Glauca,  the  Ionian.  She  was  recently  stolen 
from  Miletus  by  pirates,  and  sold  in  the  forum 
near  the  harbor  to  Thrasabad,  the  bridegroom’s 
brother.  She  is  said  to  be  the  child  of  respectable 
parents.  And  she  cost  her  owner  the  price  of  two 
estates.” 

“ She  gazes  sadly  enough,  with  drooping  lashes, 
down  into  the  sea.” 

And  yet  it  is  said  that  her  master  treats  her 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  97 

with  the  greatest  kindness  and  is  madly  in  love 
with  her.” 

“ Quite  likely.  She  is  wonderfully — divinely 
beautiful.’' 

“ But  this  bear  from  Thule,  this  Scythian  buf- 
falo, a Bacchus !” 

“ With  those  elephant’s  bones  !” 

“ And  the  big,  fiery  red  beard  !” 

“ He  would  not  clip  it  off — that  and  the  shaggy 
fleece  upon  his  head — if  by  so  doing  he  could  in 
reality  become  the  god  he  represents.” 

“ Just  so!  A Vandal  noble  in  his  own  estima- 
tion is  something  better  than  even  gods  or 
saints.” 

“ And  yet  they  were  all  once  only  cattle-thieves 
and  pirates  !” 

“ But  see  : over  the  vines  that  are  twined  around 
his  thighs  he  has  buckled  on  his  broad  German 
sword-belt !” 

“ Perhaps  purely  out  of  decency,”  laughed  the 
other.  “ And  in  fact  our  Bacchus  over  there  car- 
ries in  his  belt  a Vandal  short-sword.” 

“ It  seems  to  me  the  barbarian  is  ashamed  to 
exhibit  himself  thus  as  a naked  god.” 

“ He  has  not,  then,  lo’st  all  his  sense  of  shame !” 
exclaimed  in  indignant  tones,  a passer-by  who 
had  evidently  overheard  the  last  remark. 


98  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ Did  you  understand  that  ? It  was  that  one, 
over  there — the  one  with  Ihe  spear.  His  speech 
did  not  sound  like  that  of  a Vandal. ” 

“ But  very  like  it.  They  talk  that  way  over  in 
Spain.  I have  heard  them  at  Hispalis.” 

“ Hark ! what  a howling  oh  the  boats !” 

“ Why,  that  is  a marriage-hymn,  Victor.  The 
bridegroom’s  brother  composed  it.  For  now  the 
barbarian  noblemen  compose  Latin  and  even 
Greek  verses.  Pretty  poor  verses  they  are,  too  !” 
“ I’m.  afraid,  Laurus,  you  are  hardly  a fair 
critic.  Since  your  leather  business  collapsed,  you 
have  lived  by  poetry.  Weddings,  baptisms,  fu- 
nerals, are  all  the  same  to  you.  You  have  even  cele- 
brated in  song  the  victories  of  the  Vandals  over 
the  Moors  and — God  have  mercy  on  us! — the 
valiant  sword  of  King  Hilderic.  It  is  said,  indeed, 
that  you  are  more  ready  to  compose  for  the  bar* 
barians  than  for  the  Romans.” 

“ Of  course  I am.  The  barbarians  understand 
less,  ask  for  less,  and  pay  more.  For  the  same 
reason,  Victor,  you  in  your  wine-shop  must 
wish  that  the  Vandals  may  remain  masters  in  Car- 
thage.” 

“ Why  so?  You  may  not  be  so  wide  of  the 
piark.” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  99 

“ Well,  now,  the  barbarians  know  as  little  about 
good  .wine  as  they  do  about  good  verses/' 

“ They  can  tell  it  well  enough.  But  they  are 
always  parched  with  such  a raging  thirst  that  they 
gulp  down  and  pay  for  the  sour  wine  also.  Alas 
for  us  when  we  have  no  more  stupid  barbarians 
for  customers ! In  our  old  days  we  will  have  to 
furnish  better  wine  and  better  poetry." 

“ The  ships  will  soon  be  here.  Now  we  can  see 
all  distinctly.  Look  at  the  bridegroom's  mon- 
strous drinking-cup  ! The  little  Cupid  can  scarcely 
carry  it.  It  seems  to  me  I recognize  it." 

“ Why,  certainly  ! That  is  the  bronze  drinking- 
cup  from  the  fountain  of  Neptune  in  the  Forum. 
It  is  larger  than  the  head  of  a child." 

“ Right ! It  has  been  missing  for  several  days. 
I believe  the  Germans  would  drink  the  ocean  dry, 
if  it  were  full  of  wine." 

“ And  just  see  the  mass  of  gold  they  have  hung 
upon  the  poor  Venus!" 

“ Every  bit  of  it  stolen  Roman  property.  She 
can  scarcely  move  under  the  weight  of  her  orna- 
ments." 

“ Modesty,  Victor,  womanly  shame ! She  has 
little  else  on  her  except  jewelry." 

“ Not  the  poor  girl's  fault,  it  seems.  The 
Cupid, — the  presumptuous  scamp — has  just  pulled 


100  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

the  sail-cloth  away  from  her  and  pitched  it  into 
the  lake.  See  her  distress ! Look  with  what 
shame  she  seeks  to  conceal  herself.  She  begs  the 
bride — she  points  to  the  large  piece  of  white  silk 
at  the  latters’  feet.” 

“ The  little  Ariadne  nods  ; now  she  picks  up 
the  silk  and  throws  it  over  Aphrodite’s  shoulders 
— what  a look  of  thanks  she  receives  !” 

“ Now  they  are  about  to  land.  I am  sorry  for 
the  bride.  She  is  the  daughter  of  a free-born 
Roman  citizen,  although  of  Grecian  descent. 
And  her  father — ” 

“ Where  is  Eugenes?  I do  not  see  him  on  the 
wedding-galley.”  * 

. “ He  is  ashamed,  I suppose,  to  show  himself  at 
the  sacrifice  of  his  child.  Some  time  before  the 
marriage  he  set  out  with  his  Sicilian  friend  to 
Utica  to  purchase  grain,  and,  shortly  after  their 
return,  they  went  together  to  Syracuse.  This  is 
just  like  the  old  offering  of  maidens  that  the 
Athenians  used  to  make  to  the  Minotaur.  He 
is  sacrificing  Eugenia,  the  daintiest  jewel  of  Car- 
thage.” 

“ They  say,  however,  that  she  would  have  it  so 
— that  she  is  in  love  with  the  ruddy  giant.  And 
he  is  not  bad-looking.” 

“ He  is  a barbarian.  Now,  a curse,  say  I,  upon* 


IOI 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

all  bar — I beg  your  pardon,  my  good  sir  ! May 
St.  Cyprian  grant  you  a long  life  !” 

Hastily  he  sank  upon  his  knees  before  a half- 
drunken  Vandal  who  had  run  headlong  into  him 
and  passed  on  without  noticing  the  Roman’s  ex- 
istence. 

“ But,  Laurus,  the  barbarian  ran  into  you,  not 
you  into  him,”  said  Victor,  helping  his  companion 
to  his  feet. 

“ All  the  same ! They  are  very  ready  with 
their  short-swords,  these  masters  of  ours.  I 
would  they  were  all  in  Hades!”  -V 


XIII. 

In  the  mean  time  the  ships  had  reached  the 
shore.  As  they  drew  up  beside  one  another  along 
a broad  space  of  rising  ground,  they  were  greeted 
with  a burst  of  music  from  the  balcony.  Then 
from  their  prows  flights  of  steps  were  let  down, 
covered  with  soft  carpets,  and  strewn  vuth  flowers. 
Upon  these  the  bridal  pair  and  their  friends  de- 
scended, while  by  means  of  similar  steps  the  in- 
vited guests  came  dowm  from  the  raised  platform. 
Both  groups  now  formed  on  the  shore  into  a 


102 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


festal  procession.  A handsome,  but  somewhat 
effeminate-looking  young  Vandal,  with  a winged 
hat  upon  his  blond  lctcks  and  winged  sandals  on 
his  feet,  hurried  about  in  all  directions,  swinging 
an  ivory  staff  encircled  by  golden  snakes.  He 
seemed  to  be  the  director  of  the  fete. 

“ Who  is  that  ?”  asked  Victor.  “ The  owner  of 
the  beautiful  Aphrodite  ? He  nods  to  her.  And 
she  replies  with  a smile/’ 

“ Yes,  that  is  Thrasabad,”  said  Laurus,  angrily, 
clinching  his  fist,  though  not  very  boldly.  “ May 
St..  Cyprian  put  scorpions  in  his  bed  ! A Vandal 
poet!  A man  who  spoils  my  trade  for  me — for 
me,  the  pupil  of  the  great  Luxorius.” 

“ Pupil  ? I thought  you  were — ” 

“ His  slave,  then  his  freedman.  I have  filled 
many  an  ass’s  skin  with  the  verses  I have  copied 
for  him/* 

“ But  not  as  his  pupil — ” 

“ You  do  not  understand  the  matter.  The  en- 
tire art  of  poetry  consists  of  about  a dozen 
shrewd  little  devices.  One  learns  them  best  by 
copying,  because  they  are  all  the  time  repeating 
themselves.  But  this  barbarian  composes  gratis. 
Naturally  he  must  be  pleased  if  anybody  listens 
to  him.” 

“ He  leads  the  procession — as  Mercury/’ 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  103 

“ A nice  sort  of  Mercury!  The  only  part  of 
the  character  he  can  understand  is  stealing* 
These  noble  Germans,  when  they  want  a piece  of 
property,  have  a way  of  killing  the  owner,  and 
then  they  call  the  affair  a 6 feud.’  ” 

“See!  he  has  given  the  signal  to  set  out  for  the 
circus.  Let  us  go  too.” 

The  Mercury  had  held  out  his  hand  to  the 
Venus  to  assist  her  in  landing.  “ Have  you 
come  back  to  me  at  last  ?”  he  whispered  tenderly. 
“ For  two  hours  I have  been  deprived  of  you,  my 
beautiful  one.  Indeed  I love  you  with  my  whole 
heart.” 

A charming  smile  lit  up  her  face ; thankfully, 
lovingly  she  raised  her  eyes  to  his.  “ That  is  the 
only  reason  why  I still  live,”  she  murmured. 

“You  are  melancholy  to-night,  my  Aphrodite.” 

“I  am  not  your  Aphrodite!  I am  your 
Glauca.” 

Taking  her  hand,  Thrasabad  led  the  procession, 
which  wended  its  way,  not  without  some  delays, 
through  the  gaping  crowd. 

As  soon  as  the  company  had  entered  the  circus 
numerous  slaves  assigned  places  to  the  guests,  ac- 
cording to  their  rank  or  according  to  the  estima- 
tion in  which  they  were  held  by  the  giver  of  the 
entertainment.  The  most  honorable  positions 


104 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


were  the  foremost  rows  of  seats,  originally  intend- 
ed for  the  senators  of  Carthage,  but  now  remain- 
ing unoccupied.  Empty  also^  was  the  pulvinar , on 
the  long  southern  side,  the  imperial  box,  in  which 
many  a predecessor  of  Gelimer  had  sat.  On  the 
northern  side,  opposite,  however,  not  to  the  pul- 
vinar , but  to  the  eastern  end,  the  porta  pompae , 
the  seats  for  the  bridegroom  and  his  nearest 
friends  were  built  out  similarly  to  the  imperial 
box,  but  much  further.  Through  the  porta  pompae , 
x.a  gate  in  the  centre  of  the  compartments  for  the 
chariots,  the  grand  procession  came  before  the  be- 
ginning of  the  races.  From  this  point  the  course 
ran  towards  the  west,  where  it  rounded  off  into  a 
semicircle.  Here  the  victors  passed  out  through 
the  porta  tr  lump  kalis.  Running  east  and  west 
along  the  length  of  the  course  and  separating  this 
into  two  parts  was  a low  wall,  the  spina , richly 
decorated  with  columns,  obelisks  of  dark  green 
marble,  and  small  statues  of-  the  conquerors  in 
former  contests.  At  the  east  and  also  at  the  west 
end  of  the  spina  were  the  goals,  the  former  called  ♦ 
the  meta  prima,  the  latter  the  meta  secitnda.  The 
chariots  entered  the  arena  through  two  gates  on 
the  eastern  side.  Finally,  on  the  southern  side,  in 
a half-concealed  position  between  the  stalls  and 
Jthe  imperial  box,  was  placed  the  mournful  ga.t.e, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


105 


the  porta  Libitinensis , through  which  the  dead  and 
wounded  charioteers  were  borne  from  the  track. 

In  the  principal  box,  in  addition  to  the  bride 
and  groom,  a number  of  others,  both  men  and 
•women,  had  been  assigned  seats,  among  them 
Modigisel  and  his  fair  companion  Astarte.  Here, 
as  soon  as  all  the  guests  had  taken  their  places 
and  order  had  been  established,  the  Mercury  ap- 
peared, bowed  courteously  to  the  bridal  pair,  and 
began : 

“ Permit,  my  divine  brother,  son  of  Semele — ” 

“Stop  there,  little  one/’  interrupted  the  bride- 
groom, turning  towards  the  Mercury,  who  was 
perhaps  a couple  of  inches  shorter  than  Bacchus, 
but  still  considerably  over  six  f^et  in  height ; “ I’m 
afraid  you’ve  been  drinking  too  much  Adrumesi- 
ner  wine,  or  else  some  of  that  Grassiker  which  I 
myself  sucked  up  out  of  the  4 ocean.'  Evidently 
it  is  you  who  are  drunk  instead  of  me.  Our 
worthy  father's  name  was  Thrasamer  — not 
Semele." 

Smiling  with  an  air  of  superior  knowledge  and 
exchanging  glances  with  Aphrodite,  who  also  was 
seated  in  the  same  company,  the  poetical  Vandal 
proceeded  : 

“Grant  that  before  the  beginning  of  the  sports 
I may  recite  my  wedding-poem — ” 


io6  the  Last  of  the  vandAls. 

“No,  no,  little  brother!''  said  the  giant,  hastily. 

I would  rather,  much  rather  not.  The  verses 
are — ” 

“Not  smooth  enough,  you  think?  What  do 
you  know  about  hiatus  and—" 

“ Nothing  at  all.  But  the  sense — so  far  as  I 
fcould  cofriprehend^it ! You  were  good  enough  to 
tead  it  to  me  three  times — " 

“ And  five  times  to  me,"  said  Aphrodite,  with  a 
smile  that  became  her  admirably.  “ I begged  him 
to  burn  the  verses.  They  are  neither  pretty  nor 
good." 

“What  they  contain,"  continued  Thrasaric,  “is 
so  extravagant — in  fact,  so  immodest— 

“ Imitated  from  the  best  Roman  models," 
grumbled  the  poet. 

“ That  may  be.  Perhaps  that  is  just  the  reason. 
I felt  ashamed  when  I listened  to  them  in  private. 
I could  not  possibly  in  the  presence  of  these 
women — " 

Here  a shrill  laugh  broke  on  his  ear. 

“You  are  laughing,  Astarte ?" 

“Yes,  handsome  Thrasaric,  I am  laughing.  You 
Germans  are  incorrigible;  bashful  boys  with  the 
limbs  of  giants." 

The  little  bride  cast  an  imploring  glance  upon 
her  husband,  but  he  did  not  see  it. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  \0J 

“Bashful?  It  seems  to  me  that  for  some  time 
I have  been  anything  but  bashful.  This  role  of  a 
half-naked  god  does  not  suit  me  at  all.  I shall  be 
glad,  Eugenia,  when  we  are  through  with  all  this 
senseless  performance/’ 

She  pressed  his  hand  gratefully.  “ And  to- 
morrow,” she  whispered,  “you  will  go  with  me  to 
Hilda?  She  desires  on  the  first  day  after  our 
marriage  to  wish  us  happiness.” 

“ Certainly.  And  her  wish  will  bring  us  happi- 
ness. She  is  the  noblest  woman  in  the  world.  It 
was  her  union  with  Gibamund  that  first  taught 
me  to  believe  in  women  and  love  and  the  happi- 
ness of  marriage.  It  was  she  who — well,  what 
now,  little  one  ? Ah,  yes,  the  sports — the  guests  ! 
I had  forgotten  all  about  them.  Well,  then,  pro- 
ceed ! Give  the  signal.  Let  them  begin  below 
there.” 

The  Mercury  now  stepped  forward  to  the  white 
marble  balustrade  of  the  boxes  and  swung  his 
staff  twice  in  the  air.  Upon  this  the  two  gates  to 
the  right  and  left  of  the  stalls  flew  open,  and  two 
trumpeters  stepped  into  the  arena,  the  one  on 
the  right  clad  in  blue,  the  other  on  the  left  in 
green.  With  a couple  of  shrill  blasts  they  an- 
nounced the  commencement  of  the  performance. 

In  the  brief  interval  which  ensued  before  the 


108  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

entrance  of  the  chariots,  Modigisel  twitched 
slightly  the  panther’s  skin  of  the  bridegroom. 

“ Listen  !”  he  whispered  ; “ my  Astarte  there  is 
fairly  devouring  you  with  her  eyes.  I believe  for 
some  time  past  you  have  been  more  to  her  taste 
than  I.  I suppose  I ought  to  kill  her,  out  of  jeal- 
ousy ; but — ugh ! — it  is  too  hot  both  for  jealousy 
and  for  killing.” 

“ I thought,”  replied  Thrasaric>  “ that  she  is  no 
longer  your  slave.” 

“ I have  set  her  free,  but  she  still  owes  me  obe- 
dience. Yes!  I would  certainly  kill  her  for  this, 
if  it  were  not  so  hot.  Besides,  I am  somewhat 
satiated  with  her.  Now,  your  little  one  there,  the 
slender,  pretty  Eugenia,  pleases  me — perhaps  on 
account  of  the  contrast.  How  would  it  be,  if  we— 
if  we  should — exchange?” 

If  Thrasaric  heard  the  proposal,  he  found  no 
time  to  reply  to  it. 

Once  more  the  trumpets  sounded,  and  the 
chariots  entered  in  a stately  procession.  Five 
chariots  of  the  “ blues  ” came  slowly  from  the 
right,  five  of  the  “ greens”  from  the  left  gate. 
Leek-green  and  light  blue  in  color  were  not  only 
the  chariots  themselves,  but  the  reins  and  decora- 
tions of  the  horses  and  the  tunics  of  the  chariot- 
eers. The  first  three  on  either  side  were  drawn 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  IO9 

by  four  horses,  the  usual  number.  But  when  the 
fourth  pair  appeared  with  five  horses,  and  the  last 
chariot  of  both  parties  with  seven,  loud  shouts  of 
surprise  and  approbation  came  from  the  seats  in 
the  upper  tiers.  These  were  the  least  desirable 
places  in  the  circus,  and,  although  many  better 
rows  stood  empty,  they  had  been  given  by  the 
Vandal  overseers  to  the  Roman  artisans  and 
tradesmen. 

“ Just  look,  Victor,”  whispered  Laurus  to  his 
neighbor. 

“ Those  are  the  colors  of  the  parties  in  Byzan- 
tium.” 

“ Yes;  these  barbarians  imitate  everything.” 

“ About  as  well  as  monkeys  imitate  flute- 
playing.” 

“•Only  in  the  toga  ought  people  to  visit  the 
circus.” 

“ Like  ourselves,”  said  Victor  with  a self-satis- 
fied air. 

“ But  these  Vandals  ! A few  in  armor,  the  rest 
in  garments  about  as  thin  as  a cobweb.” 

“ Of  course.  They  will  never  become  southern- 
ers; only  degenerate  northern  barbarians.” 

“Just  seethe  lavishness  of  the  display!  The 
wheels,  even  the  felloes,  are  silvered  and  then 
striped  with  green  or  blue.” 


1 10 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 


“ And  the  chariots  themselves  glisten  with  sap- 
phires and  emeralds.” 

“ Where  did  Thrasaric  get  all  these  treasures?” 
“ Stolen,  friend  ; all  stolen  from  u$,  as  I told 
you  before.  Not  by  him — for  the  race  has  grown 
too  indolent  in  our  day  even  to  steal  and  plunder 
— but  by  his  father  Thrasamer  and  his  grandfather 
Thrasafrid.  He  was  the  right  hand  of  G^eiseric. 
And  what  that  meant,  in  the  line  of  plundering 
and  fighting,  is  a story  it  would  take  some  time 
to  tell.” 

“ What  magnificent  horses  those  are  in  the  last 
chariot — the  bay  ones  ! Those  are  not  African.” 
“ Yes,  they  are  ; but  from  Spanish  stock,  bred 
in  Cyrene.  They  are  the  best.” 

“ Especially  if  a little  Moorish  blood  is  added 
to  them,  like  that  of  the  famous  stallion  of  the 
Moorish-  chief  Cabaon.  It  is  said  a Vandal  is  now 
its  owner.” 

“ Not  likely  ! No  Moor  sells  such  a horse.” 

“ The  procession  is  finished.  They  are  taking 
their  places  beside  each  other  before  the  white 
cord.  Now — ” 

“Listen!  What  is  the  Mercury  announcing?” 
“ The  prizes  for  the  victors.  For  the  four-horse 
chariots,  first  prize  25,000  sesterces,  second  prize 
15,000;  40,000  for  the  victorious  five-horse  team, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. . Ill 

and  60,000 — it  is  unheard  of ! — for  the  seven- 
horse.” 

“Look,  how  the  seven  horses  of  the  green  char- 
iot are  pawing  the  sand  ! That  is  Hercules,  their 
driver.  He  has  already  five  decorations.” 

“ His  opponent  is  the  Moor  Chalches.  He  wears 
seven  badges  of  victory.  See,  he  lays  the  whip 
aside  and  challenges  Hercules  to  drive  without  it. 
He  will  not  dare  to  accept.” 

“Why  not?  There,  he  has  thrown  the  whip 
on  the  sand.  I bet  on  Hercules.  I am  for  the 
green,”  shouted  Victor,  excitedly. 

“ And  I for  the  blue.  It  is  a wager.  But  hold  ! 
Shall  we  who  are  Roman  citizens  make  bets  on 
the  games  of  our  tyrants?” 

“ Ah,  an  excuse  ! You  have  no  mettle  ! Or  no 
money !” 

“ More  of  both  than  you  ! How  much?  Ten 
sesterces  ?”  ^ 

“ Twelve !” 

“ Good  ! It  is  a wager.” 

“There,  the  cord  has  dropped.” 

“ Now  they  are  off.” 

“ Bravo  for  the  green  ! Already  at  the  first  goal 
— and  past  it  on  the  inside  ! ” 

“Hold  there,  Chalches!  Now  let  them  out! 
Hurrah  ! At  the  second  goal  Chalches  was  ahead.” 


112  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ Quicker,  Hercules  ! quicker,  you  sluggard  ! 
Keep  more  to  the  right — to  the  right ! Or  else — 
Oh,  a curse  upon  you  !” 

“ Ha ! by  St.  Cyprian,  victory  ! There  lies  the 
green,  as  flat  as  a mashed  frog.  Victory ! The 
blue  has  won.  Pay  up,  friend.  Where  is  my 
money  ?” 

“ That  doesn't  count.  I shall  not  pay.  The 
blue  thrust  the  pole  of  his  chariot  into  the  horse 
on  the  left  side.  That  was  unfair.’' 

“What?  You  abuse  my  color ! And  you  won’t 
pay  ?” 

“ Not  a copper.” 

“ Oho  ? Then,  you  scoundrel,  I’ll  pay  you.  ” 
And  there  followed  a loud  thwack  as  from  an  open 
hand  against  a plump  cheek. 

“ Peace  up  there  in  the  cloud  seats  !”  called  out 
the  Mercury.  “ It  is  only  two  Roman  citizens, 
gentle  bride,  who  are  boxing  each  other’s  ears. 
Friend  Mandalar  above  there,  go  put  them  out 
--both  of  them.  Now  on  with  the  sports  ! Carry 
the  green  charioteer  out  through  the  Libitinen- 
sian  gate.  Is  he  dead  ? Indeed  ! Well,  proceed. 
The  prizes  will  be  distributed  at  the  close.  We 
have  no  time  to  lose.  If  the  king  should  return 
from  Hippo  sooner  than  we  expect,  there  will  be 
trouble.” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


213 


XIV. 

“ Bah  !”  said  Modigisel’s  neighbor,  a haughty, 
looking  noble  of  distinguished  appearance,  “ we 
are  not  afraid.  We  Gundings  can  trace  back  our 
line  almost  as  far  as  the  Asdings.  I do  not  bow 
my  head  before  them.  Least  of  all  before  this 
pious  hypocrite.” 

“Right,  Gundomar.;  we  will  defy  the  tyrant,” 
joined  in  a younger  man. 

H ere  Thrasaric  turned  his  huge  head  and  spoke 
slowly,  but  with  a significance  not  to  be  misunder- 
stood : “ Gundomar  and  Gundobad,  you  are  my 

guests  ; but  if  you.  speak  ill  of  Gelimer,  I will  do 
to  you  as  was  done  to  the  two  Romans.  However 
much  wine  may  have  mounted  to  my  head — noth- 
ing  against  Gelimer.  I will  not  suffer  it.  He — 
the  noble-hearted!- — a tyrant?  What  do  you 
mean  by  that  ? ” 

“ That  he  has  usurped  the  throne.” 

“ How  ? He  is  the  oldest  of  the  Asdings.” 

“After  Hilderic.  Are  you  sure  that  Hilderic 
was  justly  deposed  and  imprisoned?”  asked 
Gundomar. 


• I 14  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ Or  that  the  whole  thing  was  not  a skilfully 
concocted  plot  ?”  added  Gundobad. 

“ You  do  not  mean  to  say  on  Gelimer’s  part  ?” 
said  Thrasaric,  threateningly. 

“ No  ; but  perhaps  devised  by  Verus.,, 

“ It  is  true  there  are  all  sorts  of  rumors ; there 
is  said  to  have  been  awarning  letter — ” 

“ No  matter  about  that  now.  But  if  your  noble- 
hearted  bigot  learns  of  these  festivities — ” 

“ Then  woe  to  us  ! It  would  be — ” 

“ Like  the  time  when  you  wanted  to  marry  your 
bride  without  a priest,”  lajughed  Modigisel. 

“ I have  thanked  him  ever  since  for  knocking 
me  down.  Eugenias  are  not  to  be  stolen — they 
are  to  be  humbly  sued  for.”  And  nodding  to  his 
bride,  he  clasped  her  veil-covered  little  head  in  his 
great  right  hand  and  pressed  it  tenderly  to  his 
breast.  A beaming  glance  from  the  large,  dark, 
antelope-like  eyes  rewarded  him. 

Modigisel  also  had  discovered  the  charm  that 
such  animation,  such  a look  of  happiness,  gave  to 
the  pure  young  face,  and  his  eyes  rested  admiring- 
ly upon  Eugenia.  The  latter  now  rose  and  whis- 
pered in  her  bridegroom’s  ear. 

“ Certainly,  my  little  bird,”  Thrasaric  replied. 
“ When  you  have  made  a vow,  you  must  keep  it. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  1X5 

Escort  her  to  the  entrance,  brother.  It  is  just  as 
necessary  to  keep  one’s  word  as  to  breathe.” 

The  bride,  accompanied  by  several  of  her 
young  friends,  was  conducted  by  Thrasabad 
through  a number  of  cross-passages  out  of  the 
circus. 

0 

“ Where  is  she  going?”  asked  Modigisel,  follow- 
ing  her  with  passionate  glances. 

“To  the  Catholic  chapel — the  one  which  they 
have  set  up* close  by  in  the  little  temple  of  Vesta. 
She  promised  her  father  to  offer  up  a prayer  there 
before  midnight,  since’  she  had  to  renounce  the 
blessing  of  her  church  on  account  of  her  marriage 
with  a heretic.”  Just  then  the  graceful  form  of 
the  bride  vanished  through  the  arched  door. 

Hereupon  Modigisel  turned  again  to  Thrasaric. 
“ Let  me  have  the  little  one,  and  take  my  stout 
one  in  exchange — you’ll  gain  almost  a hundred 
pounds  by  it.  It’s  true  in  this  climate  a man 
ought  to  choose  a lean  sweetheart. — A free 
Roman  woman  ? Well,  I,  too,  will  marry  her.  I’ll 
not  stick  at  that.” 

“ Keep  your  exuberant  treasure  and  don’t  grudge 
me  my  slender  one.  I’m  far  from  being  drunk 
enough  to  make  such  an  exchange.” 

At  this  point  Astarte  spoke  up  in  a loud  voice. 


II 6 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

Both  men  started.  Had*she  heard  their  low  whis- 
pering ? 

“ There  is  nothing  to  her  but  skin  and  bones.” 
And  again  her  sensuous  lips  slightly  curled,  show- 
ing between  them  her  sharp  white  teeth. 

“ And  eyes!  Such  eyes  !”  exclaimed  Modigisel. 

“ Yes,  as  big  as  her  entire  face.  Like  those  of 
a chicken  that  has  just  crept  out  of  the  shell,” 
said  Astarte,  scornfully.  “ What  is  there  so  re- 
markable about  her  ?”  And  her  round  eyes  flashed 
malignantly. 

“ A soul,  Carthaginian,”  replied  the  bridegroom. 

“ Women  have  no  souls,”  said  Astarte,  gazing 
at  him  steadily.  “ So  teaches  one  of  the  fathers  of 
the  church — or  some  philosopher.  In  place  of 
souls,  some  of  us  have  in  our  veins  water,  others 
fire.”  She  stopped,  breathing  hard.  A rich  glow 
suffused  her  sphinx-like,  exquisitely  modelled 
cheeks.  She  was  bewitchingly,  demoniacally 
beautiful. 

“ Fire  !”  said  Thrasaric,  turning  away  his  glance 
from  her  burning  eyes.  “ Fire  is  also  the  symbol 
of  hell.”  Astarte  made  no  reply. 

“ She  is  beautiful  because  she  is  so  modest  and 
pure,”  observed  Aphrodite  with  a sigh,  for  she,  too, 
had  overheard  part  of  the  conversation. 

“ No  wonder  that  you  hold  fast  to  her,”  said 


' THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  II 7 

Modigisel  in  loud,  scornful  tones.  “ After  your 
attempt  to  carry  her  off  failed,  you  courted  the 
old  grain-usurer’s  little  doll  as  deferentially  as 
some  Roman  baker  or  tailor  would  woo  the  child 
of  his  neighbor  the  cobbler.” 

“ True  enough,”  said  Gundomar;  “ but  he  has 
celebrated  his  wedding  with  as  much  splendor  as 
if  he  were  leading  to  his  house  the  emperor’s 
daughter.” 

“ Perhaps  the  splendor  of  the  wedding  is  more 
to  his  taste  than  the  bride,”  laughed  Gundobad. 

“ Most  certainly  not,”  replied  Thrasaric,  slowly. 
“ But  one  thing  is  true  : since  I know  that  she 
is — that  she  will  be  mine,  my  raging  passion  for 
her  is — But  no  ! it  is  not  so  ! She  is  very  dear 
to  me.  It  is  the  wine — the  heat.  I have  taken 
so  much  wine  !” 

“ Against  wine  the  best  antidote  is— wine,” 
laughed  Modigisel.  “ Here,  slaves,  bring  Bacchus 
a second  ocean.” 

The  wine  was  brought,  and  Thrasaric  took  a 
long  draught. 

“Well?”  whispered  Modigisel.  “I  will  give 
you  to  boot  besides  Astarte  my  fish-pond,  full  of 
mullets,  near  the  royal  villa  at  Grasse — ” 

“I  am  no  glutton,”  replied  Thrasaric,  indig- 
nantly. 


1 1 8 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS 


“ I will  add  to  this  my  pillared  hall  at  Decimum- 
I have,  it  is  true,  given  it  to  Astarte — but  she  will 
consent.  Will  you  not?”  Astarte  nodded  in 
silence.  Her  nostrils  quivered. 

Thrasaric  shook  his  shaggy  head.  “ I have  more 
villas  than  I can  live  in. — Hark,  the  blast  of  a 
trumpet ! Are  the  races  about  to  begin  ? Say, 
little  brother!  Ah!  he  is  not  here.  Horses — 
wine — dice — these  are  the  three  greatest  of  all 
pleasures.  I would  barter  the  future  of  my  soul 
for  the  best  horse  in  the  world.  The  best  horse  !” 
— and  he  drank  deeply  again.  “ But  I lost  him 
through  my  own  folly.  I would  give  ten  Eugenias 
for  him.” 

Here  Astarte  laid  her  cold  finger  gently  upon 
Modigisel’s  bare  arm.  He  turned  around ; she 
whispered  a few  words  to  him,  and,  with  a look  of 
joyful  surprise,  he  nodded  assent.  “The  best 
horse?  What  is  its  name?  How  did  you  lose 
it  ?” 

“ It  is  called— I can’t  pronounce  its  Moorish 
name,  for  it  is  nothing  but  a succession  of  c/is. 
We,  however,  named  it  Styx..  It  is  a three-year- 
old  black  stallion  of  mixed  Spanish  and  Moorish 
blood,  and  it  was  bred  in  Cyrene.  Lately,  when 
our  valiant  king  began  the  arming  and  equipment 
of  the  troops,  it  was  announced  to  the  Moors  that 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


II9 


we  nobles  needed  fine  horses.  Among  many 
others,  Sersaon,  the  grandson  of  the  old  chief  Ca- 
baon,  came  to  Carthage,  bringing*  as  usual  the 
best  horses  of  all.” 

“ That  is  a fact.  We  know  them,”  confirmed 
the  Vandals. 

“ But  the  pearl  even  of  the  best  was  Styx,  the 
black  stallion.  I am  ready  to  weep  with  vexation 
when  I remember  how  I lost  him.  The  Moor 
who  rode  him,  a youth  apparently  hardly  more 
than  a boy,  said  that  the  horse  was  not  for  sale. 
When  I urged  the  matter  eagerly,  he  demanded, 
with  a mocking  grin,  an  unheard-of  price,  that  no 
man  in  his  senses  would  pay, — many  pounds  of 
gold,  I have  forgotten  how  many.  I laughed  in 
his  face.  Then  I looked  again  at  the  noble  animal 
— commanded  my  slaves  to  bring  the  gold,  and 
placed  the  leather  bag  in  the  Moor’s  hand.  It  was 
in  the  open  court  of  my  house  at  the  Forum  of 
Constantine,  and  many  other  horses  stood  around  ; 
some  of  our  lancers  also  were  in  the  saddle,  super- 
intending the  examination  of  the  horses.  When 
I had  closed  the  transaction,  I said  with  a sigh  to 
my  brother  : ‘ It  is  a pity  to  have  paid  so  much 
money;  the  beast  is  scarcely  worth  it.’  4 It  is 
worth  more,  as  you  shall  see  !’  cried  the  saucy 
Moor,  springing  upon  the  horse  and  bounding 


120  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

out  through  the  gate,  the  bag  still  clutched  in  his 
fist.” 

“That  was  too  bad,”  said  Modigisel. 

“ His  audacity  enraged  us  all.  Forthwith  we 
started  in  pursuit — there  were  about  twenty  of  us, 
our  best  riders,  mounted  upon  the  excellent 
Moorish  horses  we  had  just  purchased.  At  the 
corner  of  the  street  he  was  so  near  that  Thrasabad 
hurled  his  javelin  at  him.  Although  at  our 
shouts  the  people  ran  out  from  all  the  cross- 
streets to  stop  him  on  the  main  highway,  he  was0 
not  stopped.  The  watch  at  the  southern  gate  saw 
us  coming  and  sprang  to  close  it.  They  did  close 
the  gate,  but  the  noble  creature  had  already  sped 
through  like  an  arrow.  We  followed  in  pursuit  for 
a half-hour  longer  ; by  that  time  the  fugitive  had 
gained  so  much  that  we  could  scarcely  see  him  in 
the  distance,  like  an  ostrich  disappearing  in  the 
desert.  Angry  and  loudly  reviling  the  faithless 
Moor,  we  rode  slowly  back  on  our  exhausted  horses. 
As  we  approached  my  house,  there  stood  the  Moor 
in  the  "court-yard,  leaning  against  the  black  stal- 
lion— he  had  ridden  into  the  city  again  through 
the  western  gate.  ‘ Do  you  know  now/  said  he, 

‘ the  value  of  this  noble  steed  ? Keep  your  gold. 
He  is  no  longer  for  sale/  And  he  threw  the  bag 
at  my  feet  and  rode  slowly  and  proudly  away. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


121 


So  I lost  Styx,  the  best  horse  in  the  world. — 
Ha  ! is  this  an  illusion  ? Or  is  it  the  strong  wine  ? 
There — below — in  the  arena — among  the  other 
horses — ” 

“ Stands  Styx,”  said  Astarte,  quietly.  * 

“To  whom  does  this  treasure  belong?”  shouted 
Thrasaric  in  great  excitement. 

“ To  me,”  replied  Modigisel. 

“ Have  you  bought  him  ?” 

“ No.  In  the  last  campaign  he  was  captured, 
together  with  some  other  horses  and  a number  of 
camels.” 

“Not  by  you?”  -roared  Thrasaric.  “You 
remained  at  home,  as  usual,  under  the  protection 
of  Astarte’s  broad  shadow.” 

“But  I sent  thirty  mercenaries  as  substitutes. 
They  found  the  horse  tethered  in  the  camp  of  the 
Moors,  and  what  the  mercenaries  capture — ” 

“ Belongs  to  him  who  hires  them,”  said  Thrasa- 
bad,  who  had  just  returned  to  the  box. 

“ This  prodigy  then  belongs — to  you — to  you  ?” 
cried  Thrasaric  enviously. 

“Yes,  now;  but  to  you — whenever  you  wish.” 

“ Thrasaric  gulped  down  another  cup  of  wine. 

“No!  no  !”  he  said.  “At  least  not  this  way, 
not  by  my  deliberate  act.  Besides,  she  is  free;  J 


122  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

could  not  give  her  away  like  a slave,  even  if  I so 
wished!” 

“ Only  give  up  your  right  to  her.  I will  easily 
find,  for  money,  some  ground  for  nullifying 
your  marriage.” 

“She  is  a Catholic,  he  an  Arian,”  whispered 
Astarte. 

“Yes;  that  alone  would  suffice.  And  then 
just  give  me  an  opportunity — this  Gelimer  cannot 
be  always  interfering.” 

“ No  ! Be  still ! Not  this  way.  But — we  might 
leave  it  to  the  dice.  Then  the  dice  would  have 
done  it,  not  I — it  would  be  destiny.  Ah,  I can- 
not, I really  cannot — think  any  more  ! If  I throw 
the  larger  number,  each  one  keeps  what  he  has ; if 
I throw  less  than  you,  then  I will — No!  no!  I 
will  not!  Let  me  sleep  a little.”  And  stupefied 
by  wine,  in  spite  of  the  noise  around  him,  his 
mighty  rose-crowned  head  sank  ,down  upon  his 
arms,  which  he  had  folded  one  upon  the  other 
upon  the  marble  balustrade. 

Modigisel  and  Astarte  exchanged  glances. 

“ What  will  you  gain  by  it  ?”  asked  the  former. 
“ He  does  not  trade  for  you,  but  for  the  horse.” 

“ At  least  she,  with  her  nun’s  face,  shall  not 
have  him.  And  my  time  will  come.” 

“ Provided  I release  you  from  my  protection/1 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  12$ 
“ You  will !” 

“ I do  not  know  about  that.” 

Oh  yes,  you  will !”  said  she,  fawningly.  But  at 
the  same  time  she  lifted  herjfiead  slightly,  and  her 
eyes  again  contracted  like  the  tiger’s. 

***** 

After  a brief  sleep  the  bridegroom  was  wakened 
by  his  brother.  “ Wake  up,”  said  the  latter; 
“ Eugenia  is  back.  Let  her  pass  to  her  place — ” 

“ Eugenia  ! — I have  not  lost  her  at  the  dice  ! I 
do  not  want  the  horse.  I have  given  no  promise.” 
He  started  in  affright,  for  there,  right  before 
him,  at  the  side  of  the  Ionian,  stood  his-bride,  her 
large,  dark-brown  eyes  fixed  anxiously,  searchingly 
upon  his  face.  She  said  nothing,  but  a deathly 
paleness  lay  upon  her  cheeks.  How  much  had 
she  overheard — or  understood  ? he  asked  himself. 
Thrasabad’s  slave  humbly  made  way  for  her. 

“ Thank  you,  Aphrodite.” 

“ Oh,  do  not  call  me  by  that  name  of  mockery 
and  disgrace ! Call  me  as  my  dear  parents  did 
before  I was  stolen  away — before  I became — 
booty,  a piece  of  merchandise.” 

“ Thank  you,  Glauca.” 

“The  race  will  not  take  place,”  lamented 
Thrasabad,  to  whom  a freedman  had  just  delivered 
a message. 


124  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

“ Why  not  ?” 

“ Because  no  one  will  wager  against  the  black 
stallion  which  Modigisel  has  entered.  It  is  Styx, 
You  know  the  hor$e.” 

“ Yes,  I know  him.  But  I have  promised  noth- 
ing, Modigisel  ?”  asked  he  eagerly,  but  with 
lowered  voice. 

“ Of  course  you  have— -to  leave  it  to  the  dice. 
Don’t  you  remember  *>” 

“ Impossible  1” 

“ You  said,  ‘ If  I throw  thegreater  number,  each 
shall  keep  what  he  has  ; if  I throw  less — 9 99 

“O  God!  Yes,  I remember! — It  is  nothing, 
little  bride.  Pay  no  attention  to  me.” 

Then  he  turned  to  Modigisel.  “ Give  me  back 
my  word,”  he  whispered. 

“ Never !” 

“You  can  break  it,  you  know,”  said  Astarte, 
scornfully. 

“ Serpent !”  he  cried,  and  raised  his  fist.  But 
with  an  effort  he  controlled  himself,  and  the  stal- 
wart giant,  helpless  as  a bear  entangled  in  a net, 
turned  again  entreatingly  to  Modigisel. 

“ Release  me !” 

But  the  young  noble  shook  his  head.  “ I with- 
draw my  horse  from  the  race,”  said  he  loudly  to 


the  last  of  the  vandals.  125 


Thrasabad.  “ It  is  glory  enough  that  no  one 
dares  to  compete  with  him.” 

“ Then  the  race  can  come  off — but  at  the  end. 
First,  there  are  two  surprises  which  I have  pre- 
pared for  you  in  another  place.  Come,  Glauca, 
your  hand.  Follow  me,  all  ye  guests  of  Thrasaric — - 
follow  me  to  the  amphitheatre.” 


XV. 

WITH  a flourish  of  trumpets  this  invitation  was 
announced  by  criers  throughout  the  whole  great 
building,  and  in  consequence  of  the  excellence  of 
the  arrangements  and  the  number  of  exits  the  cir- 
cus was  soon  empty. 

Then,  accompanied  by  the  soft  music  of  flutes, 
the  thousands  of  guests  and  spectators  proceeded 
in  a gay  procession  to  the  neighboring  amphi- 
theatre. 

This  was  an  oval-shaped  building,  with  the 
longitudinal  axis  of  its  inner  ellipse  about  two 
hundred  and  forty  feet  in  length.  Its  arrange- 
ment resembled  that  of  the  circus : an  oval  outer 
wall  rising  in  two  stories  of  archways,  each  tier 
adorned  with  statues  and  columns.  Here  also 


126  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

from  the  level  of  the  arena  the  rows  of  seats 
ascended  in  the  manner  of  steps,  and  were  divided 
into  triangular  sections  by  passages  which  led  to 
the  exits.  Between  the  amphitheatre  and  the 
adjacent  lake  there  was  a subterranean  connec- 
tion. 

The  host  and  his  most  distinguished  guests  took 
their  seats  in  a raised  gallery  extending  out 
directly  to  the  arena,  the  podium , which  formerly 
had  been  reserved  for  the  senators  of  Carthage. 

On  one  side  of  the  arena  were  a number  of 
grated  cells,  or  cages,  partly  concealed  by  curtains. 
From  these  cages  the  savage  and  confused  cries 
of  many  sorts  of  wild  animals  greeted  the  ears  of 
the  entering  guests.  But  the  growls  and  the 
yelps  were  suddenly  hushed,  as  a long  ominous 
howling,  that  gradually  deepened  into  a roar,  came 
from  the  largest  of  the  cells.  So  dread  was  its 
import  that  the  smaller  occupants  of  the  neigh- 
boring cages  grew  silent,  as  if  abashed. 

“ Are  you  afraid,  little  one  ?”  Thrasaric  asked 
his  bride,  as  he  led  her  in  by  the  hand.  “ You 
are  trembling.” 

“ Not  through  fear  of  the  tiger,”  she  replied. 

When  the  seats  of  honor  were  filled,  Thrasabad 
once  more  appeared,  bowed,  and  said  : “ It  is 

true  the  Roman  emperors  have  for  a long  time 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  12? 

« 

forbidden  gladiatorial  combats  and  fights  in  the 
arena  with  wild  beasts.  But  we  are  not  Romans. 
I know,  too,  that  by  our  kings — especially  King 
Gclimer — the  prohibition  has  been  renewed — ” 

“ If  he  should  learn  of  it,”  said  Thrasaric  un- 
easily. 

“ Bah  ! He  is  not  expected  until  to-morrow.  If 
he  should  come  back  earlier,  he  will  be  delayed  at 
the  Capitol,  and  it  is  two  good  leagues  from  there 
to  this  place.  The  noise  of  our  festivities  cannot 
possibly  be  heard  at  such  a distance.  And  we 
need  say  nothing  about  the  matter  to  him  to- 
morrow.” 

“ And  the  gladiators  ?” 

“ They  will  not.  Dead  men  do  not  talk.  We 
shall  let  them  fight  until  there  is  no  one  left  to 
betray  us.” 

“ Little  brother,  this  seems  to  me  almost  too— 
Roman.” 

“ Ah  ! only  the  Romans  knew  how  to  live,  our 
bear-like  ancestors,  at  best,  how  to  die.  Do  you 
suppose  I have  occupied  myself  only  with  the 
study  of  Roman  poetry?  I am  proud  to  say  that 
I can  also  imitate  their  customs. — Speak  up,  Gun- 
domar,  are  we  afraid  of  King  Gelimer?” 

“We  nobles  of  the  Vandals  do  not  peripit  any 
one  to  dictate  in  matters  which  concern  our  pleas? 


128 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


ures.  Let  him  attempt  to  drive  us  from  this 
place  ! ” 

“ And  at  my  brother’s  marriage  an  exception  is 
proper,  in  fact  demanded.  Therefore  I willYeast 
your  eyes  with  old-fashioned  Roman  sports  and 
with  old-Roman  gladiatorial  combats.” 

A loud  shout  of  applause  was  the  answer  to 
this  announcement.  Thrasabad  disappeared  to 
give  his  commands. 

“ It  is  easy  to  understand  where  he  obtains  the 
beasts,”  observed  Gundomar.  “ Africa  is  their 
breeding-place.  But  the  gladiators  Y* 

“ He  has  confided  the  secret  to  me,”  answered 
Modigisel.  “ They  are  partly  slaves,  partly  Moors, 
captured  in* the  last  campaign.  The  white  sand 
of  the  arena  will  soon  be  red  with  blood.” 

“ That  will  be  splendid  !”  exclaimed  Astarte 
with  such  unusual  fervor  that  even  Modigisel 
gazed  at  her  with  a slight  shudder. 

“ Gladiators  !”  said  TJirasaric  doubtfully.  “ Eu- 
genia, do  you  want  to  go  ?” 

“ I will  close  my  eyes — and  stay.  Only  let  me 
be  near  you.  Do  not  send  me  away,  I beseech 
you.” 

Here  the  loud  beating  of  drums  put  a stop  to 
further  conversation,  and  a cry  of  astonishment 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  I2g 

burst  from  the  thousands  that  filled  the  amphi- 
theatre. 

The  arena  divided  suddenly  from  left  to  right 
into  two  half-circles,  and  each  semicircular  part, 
drawn  towards  the  side,  disappeared  in  the 
masonry.  Twenty  feet  below  the  vanished  arena 
a new  sand-covered  surface  became  visible,  and 
upon  this  rushed  and  surged  from  all  sides  a vast 
mass  of  foaming  water  that  soon  changed  the  bot- 
tom of  the  amphitheatre  into  a sea.  A few  moments 
later  broad  gates  opened  on  the.  left  and  on  the 
right,  and  there  came  rowing  in  two  stately  war- 
galleys,  fully  manned  and  equipped  for  battle. 

Their  tall  masts,  on  account  of  the  necessary 
lack  of  wind  in  an  enclosed  space,  carried  no 
sails,  but  the  yards  were  filled  with  archers  and 
slingers. 

“ Ha!  A sea-fight!  Excellent!  Glorious !” 
shouted  the  spectators. 

“ Look,  a Byzantine  trireme  !” 

“ And  a Vandal  pirate-ship  ! See,  how  bright  is 
the  gleam  of  its.  scarlet  flag  !” 

“ And  above — on  the  ship’s  mast— the  golden 
dragon  !” 

“ The  Vandal  is  going  to  attack.  Where  are 
the  rowers  ?” 

“ They  are  not  in  sight.  No  doubt  they  are  be- 


130  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

low  the  deck.  But  above — forward  on  the  bow- 
sprit, the  crew  are  massed,  with  their  axes  and 
javelins  raised.” 

“ The  Byzantine  intends  to  run  the  Vandal 
down.  Look,  how  she  comes  on  !” 

“ Notice  her  sharp,  threatening  ram,  right  at 
the  water-line !” 

“ But  the  Vandal  ship  turns  quickly.  It  has 
escaped  the  blow.  Now  the  spears  fly.” 

“ There  ! there  a Roman  falls  on  the  deck.  He 
does  not  rise  again.” 

“ Another  one  has  fallen  overboard.  ” 

“Yes,  he  is  swimming.” 

“ No  ! he  has  sunk.” 

“ The  water  around  him  is  all  bloody,”  said 
Astarte,  bending  eagerly  forward. 

“ Let  me  go — oh,  let  me  go  away,  and  come 
with  me !”  begged  Eugenia. 

“ Child — not  now.  You  will  have  to  stay  now. 
I must  see  this,”  replied  Thrasaric. 

“ Now  the  Vandal  ship  lies  side  by  side  with 
the  Byzantine.” 

“ They  are  boarding — our  men  ! How  their 
blond  locks  stream  out  ! .Victory!  Victory  for 
the  Vandals  !” 

“ But,  Thrasaric,  they  are  only  masked  slaves !” 
“No  matter!  They  carry  our  flag  ! Victory! 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  1 3 1 

Victory  for  the  Vandals  ! Just  look  what  a fearful 
struggle  is  going  on— man  to  man  ! How  the 
shields  clash  and  the  axes  glisten  ! Oh,  woe  ! The 
leader  of  the  Vandals  has  fallen.  If  only  I were 
down  there  on  that  accursed  Roman  ship  !” 

“ There,  another  Vandal  is  down!  Fresh 
Romans  are  coming  up  from  below  the  deck. 
What  perfidy  !” 

“ The  Romans  have,  you  see,  a superior  force. 
Two  more  Vandals  have  fallen.” 

“ They  have  enticed  ours  on  board  by  craft.” 

“ Brother  ! Thrasabad  ! Where  are  you  ?” 

“ Yonder  in  a small  boat  near  the  two  contend- 
ing ships,”  said  Glauca,  irra  voice  full  of  anxiety. 

“ The  Vandals  are  overpowered.  They  are 
springing  into  the.  water.” 

“ Those  left  upon  the  Roman  ship  are  being 
bound.” 

“ Now  the  Romans  are  throwing  fire  at  our 
ship.  It  is  beginning  to  burn.” 
u The  mast  is  all  in  flames.  ” 

“ The  helmsman  and  the  rowers  jumo  over- 
board.” 

“ But  where  is  Thrasabad  ?” 

The  Mercury  now  appeared  again  upon  ' the 

podium. 


132  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ Brother,”  said  Thrasaric,  “ this  is  a bad 
omen/' 

Thrasabad  shugged  his  shoulders.  “ The  for- 
tune of  war.  I could  not  meddle  with  it.  Noth- 
ing was  prearranged  with  regard  to  the  result. 
Dead — five  Romans,  twelve  Vandals.  Away! 
Away  with  the  whole  scene  ! Vanish,  ocean !” 

He  waved  his  winged  staff,  and  the  water  with 
the  corpses  it  contained  sank  swirling  into  the 
abyss.  The  Roman  trireme,  obedient  to  its  helm 
and  rowing  vigorously  to  starboard,  suceeded  in 
reaching  the  gate  through  which  it  had  entered, 
but  the  empty,  burning  Vandal  ship  was  sucked 
down  with  the  rushing,  foaming  water  into  the 
great  funnel  beneath.  It  spun  round  and  round, 
wkh  constantly  accelerated  speed,  its  mast  bend- 
ing more  and  more  to  the  right  and  still  blazing 
fiercely,  until  suddenly  the  ship  gave  a lurch  and 
disappeared  in  the  depths  below.  Gurgling, 
swirling,  and  foaming,  the  rest  of  the  water  fol- 
lowed it. 

“ The  sea  is  gone,”  cried  Thrasabad.  “ In  its 
stead  come  the  desert  and  the  combats  of  its 
monsters.” 

And  at  the  level  of  the  former  flooring,  high 
above  the  surface  of  the  vanished  sea,  the  semi- 
circular halves  of  the  arena,  with  their  covering  of 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 1 33 

white  sand  were  again  shoved  forward  from  both 
sides.  Slaves,  white,  yellow,  and  black,  clad  only 
in  aprons,  appeared  in  great  numbers  and  pushed 
back  the  curtains  which  covered  the  gratings  in 
front  of  the  cages. 

“ We  will  now  present  to  you—”  began  Thrasa- 
bad  somewhat  magniloquently,  but  he  stopped 
suddenly ; for  that  fearful  howl,  which  during 
the  noise  of  the  naval  battle  had  ceased,  or 
at  least  had  not  been  heard,  broke  threaten- 
ingly again  upon  the  air,  and  a huge  tiger  was 
seen  to  spring  from  the  back  of  his  tolerably 
long  cage  with  such  force  against  the  bars  that 
these  actually  bent  outward,  while  splinters  of  the 
wood  in  which  they  were  fastened  flew  into  the 
arena. 

“ Brother,”  said  Thrasaric  softly,  “the  cage  is 
too  long.  Take  care  ! The  beast  has  too  much 
play.  And  the  wood  of  the  floor  is  too  rotten. 
Are  you  afraid,  Eugenia  ?” 

“ I am  with  you,”  she  answered  calmly.  “ But  I 
do  not  wish  any  more  men  to  be  fighting  or 
dying — even  if  I do  not  look  at  them.” 

“ Only  at  the  close,  little  sister-in-law,  a captive 
Moor—” 

“ Where  did  you  get  him?”  asked  Modigisel. 


134  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

“ Most  of  them  I hired  from  the  slave-dealers. 
But  this  one  is  condemned  to  death.” 

“ Why?” 

“ He  strangled  his  master  when  the  latter 
undertook  to  scourge  him.  He  is  a slender, 
handsome  young  fellow,  but  provokingly  obsti- 
nate. He  will  reveal  neither  his  father’s  name 
nor  that  of  his  tribe.  The  brother  and  heir  of  the 
murdered  man  delivered  him  to  me  cheap  for  the 
sea-fight,  and  if  he  should  survive  it,  for  the  tiger. 
All  our  blows  could  not  induce  him  to  take  part 
in  the  battle.  His  master  had  to  bind  him  hand 
and  foot.  Now  he  will  be  forced  to  fight.  We 
shall  place  him,  fully  armed,  in  the  arena  and  let 
loose  upon  him  the  tiger,  which  has  not  tasted 
food  for  two  days.” 

“ O Thrasaric,  my  husband,  my  first  request — ” 

“ I cannot  help  you,  Eugenia.  I have  promised 
him  a free  hand  for  to-day.  And  a man’s  word 
must  be  kept,  even  if  it  prove  to  be  folly  or 
crime.” 

“ That  is  true,”  said  Modigisel,  bending  for- 
ward and  whispering  softly  in  his  ear.  “ A man 
must  keep  his  word.  When  shall  we  throw?” 

White  with  passion,  Thrasaric  started  up.  “ I 
will  strike  you  dead — ,” 

“ That  would  not  help  the  matter.  Astarte 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  I35 

knows  about  it.  Keep  your  promise,  or  all  the 
nobles  of  Carthage  shall  know  to-morrow  how  to 
rate  your  faith  and  honor.” 

“ I will  sooner  kill  the  child  with  my  own 
hands.” 

“ That  would  be  as  dishonorable  as  if,  out  of 
envy,  I should  in  advance  stab  the  black  stallion. 
Keep  faith,  nobleman!  You  cannot  act  other- 
wise.” 

Here  Modigisel  encountered  a glance  from 
Eugenia.  She  could  not  have  overheard  ; but  he 
became  silent. 

“And  then,”  said  Astarte  to  Modigisel  in  atone 
just  as  soft,  “ when  you  have  her,  I become  abso- 
lutely free.” 

“I  do  not  know  yet,”  he  muttered.  “It  does 
not  look  as  if  I shall  get  her.” 

“ Give  me  my  freedom  !”  persisted  Astarte. 
The  words  seemed  to  be  a petition,  but  in  her 
manner  of  making  it  there  was  something  so 
threatening  that  Modigisel  gave  a startled  glance 
into  her  dark  eyes.  He  saw  there  an  expression 
which  he  had  never  yet  dared  to  defy.  However, 
he  evaded*  a response  Adth  the  roughly-asked 
question,  “ What  is  there  in  this  giant  that  at- 
tracts you  as  the  magnet  does  iron  ?” 

“ His  strength,”  replied  Astarte  with  energy, 


1 36  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

“ I,  too,  was  strong  enough  once/’  muttered 
Modigisel,  gloomily.  “ But  Africa  and  Astarte 
would  exhaust  the  marrow  of  a Hercules.” 

This  whispered  talk  was  interrupted  by  Thras- 
abad,  who,  now  that  the  tiger  had  become  silent, 
resumed  his  speech  : 

“ We  will  present  for  your  amusement  the  fol- 
lowing contests  : six  African  bears  from  the 

Atlas  Mountains  with  six  buffaloes;  a hippopota- 
mus from  the  Nile  with  a rhinoceros;  an  ele- 
phant and  three  leopards  ; an  immense  tiger — 
do  you  hear  him  ? Be  still,  Hasdrubal,  until  you 
are  summoned  ! — with  a Moor  in  full  armor,  a 
.Moor  who  has  been  condemned  to  death/' 

“ Ha;!  Good!  That  will  be  fine  sport !”  came 
in  exclamations  of  approval  from  all  sides. 

“ And,  finally,  if,  as  we  hope,  Hasdrubal  remains 
the  victor,  then  the  tiger  against  all  the  conquer- 
ors in  the  other  contests  together,  and  against  a 
pack  of  twelve  British  hounds." 

Loud  applause  greeted  this  announcement. 

“ My  sincere  thanks,  ” continued  the  director  of 
the  festivities.  “ But  one  cannot  live  solely  on 
thanks.  Your  Mercury  requires  ambrosia  and 
nectar.  Before  we  witness  any  further  contests 
let  us  refresh  ourselves  a little.  A morsel  of  food, 
& draught  of  cool  wine,  and  a voluptuous  dan££. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  137 

What  say  ye,  my  patrons?  Come,  beautiful 
Glauca  !” 

Without  waiting  for  the  answer — he  seemed  to 
be  sure  of  it  even  before  it  burst  forth  in  still  live- 
lier shouts  of  approval — he  waved  his  wand  again. 

As  if  by  magic  the  heavy  stone  walls  which  sep- 
arated the  podium  and  the  higher  rows  of  seats 
from  the  arena  and  the  lower  rows  sank  down  and 
transformed  themselves  into  gently  descending 
flights  of  steps  leading  to  the  sand-strewn  floor. 

At  the  same  time  from  both  sides  long  tables 
were  moved  into  the  arena  by  unseen  hands. 
These  tables  were  spread  with  costly  covers  and 
were  set  with  artistically  shaped  wine-jars,  pitch- 
es, goblets,  and  cups  of  gold  and  silver,  and  with 
broad  shallow  dishes  filled  with  selected  fruits  and 
delicate  pastry.  In  the  very  midst  of  the  arena 
rose  an  altar,  its  three  steps  thickly  covered  with 
wreaths  of  flowers  and  crowned  by  a figure  veiled 
in  white.  And  from  the  side  came  dancing  in 
about  a hundred  satyrs  and  bacchantes,  whose 
efforts  to  catch  and  to  escape  formed  a pantomim- 
ic dance,  to  the  accompaniment  of  a noisy,  intoxi- 
cating music  of  cymbals  and  drums.  But  above 
all  the  noise,  which,  indeed,  seemed  the  more  to 
enrage  him,  rose,  each  time  louder  and  more 
threateningly,  the  howl  of  the  Hyrcanian  tiger. 


138  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

- \J 


XVI. 

Many  of  the  guests,  among  them  almost  all 
who  were  in  the  podium , descended  to  the  arena, 
filled  for  themselves  the  wine-cups,  and  partook 
of  the  fruit  and  the  pastry.  To  those  who  pre- 
ferred to  retain  their  places,  gayly  dressed  slaves 
carried  the  refreshments  along  the  rows  of  seats. 

As  soon  as  the  barriers  between  the  arena  and 
the  spectators  had  been  removed,  a constant 
throng  of  guests  streamed  back  and  forth,  now 
going  down  to  the  tables,  now  returning  to  their 
places.  Many  even  mingled  in  the  performance 
of  the  satyrs  and  bacchantes,  and  not  infrequently 
one  of  the  latter  was  clasped  round  the  waist  by  a 
Vandal,  who  joined  with  his  prize  in  the  wild 
abandon  of  the  dance. 

Every  moment  the  merry-making  became  more 
chaotic,  the  cheeks  burned  with  a brighter  color, 
the  blond  hair  and  the  black  mingled  together  and 
fluttered  out  more  wildly,  and  the  musicians  were 
compelled  to  accelerate  their  time,  if  they  wished 
to  keep  pace  with  the  growing  passion  of  the 
dancers. 

To  none  of  the  revellers  was  the  wine  so  wel- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  1 39 

come  as  to  Thrasabad.  He  was  somewhat 
exhausted  by  the  hurrying  from  place  to  place 
which  the  duties  of  his  position  demanded,  and 
his  vanity  was  greatly  excited  by  the  approval  his 
arrangements  met  with.  Cup  after  cup  he  drank, 
as  he  stood,  leaning  against  a pillar,  his  feet  upon 
a white  panther’s  skin,  which  was  spread  before  a 
small  drinking-table.  Glauca,  whom  he  held  on 
his  arm,  gazed  at  him  with  anxious  looks,  but  did 
not  dare  to  utter  a warning. 

Thrasaric  noticed  her  anxiety..  “ Little  broth- 
er, ” he  said,  “ take  care.  The  director  of  the  fes- 
tival is  the  only  one  who  is  compelled  to  remain 
sober.  This  Grassiker  is  strong.  And  you,  my 
poor  brother — you  know  it  yourself— cannot  stand 
a great  deal,  because  you  talk  too  much  in  your 
cups.” 

“ There  is  no — no — danger — at  all,”  replied 
Thrasabad,  already  articulating  his  words  with 
difficulty.  “ Come,  now,  Iris  and  the  Cupids!” 
He  raised  his  wand  with  a flourish,  but  it  slipped 
from  his  hand.  Glauca  picked  it  up  and  placed  it 
at  his  side. 

Suddenly  the  broad  vaulted  canopy  of  white 
silk  which  covered  the  amphitheatre  opened,  and 
a shower  of  flowers,  mostly  roses  and  lilies,  fell 
upon  the  altar,  the  loaded  tables,  and  the  dancers, 


140 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


while  through  invisible  tubes  a fragrant  perfum 
was  sprinkled,  in  the  form  of  a hardly  perceptib 
mist,  over  the  arena  and  the  seats  of  the  specta- 
tors. 

Then,  high  up  behind  the  arena  and  breaking, 
apparently,  through  a thick  gray  cloud,  appeared 
a bright  disk,  like  that  of  the  sun.  From  it 
streamed  a soft,  yellow  light. 

“ Helios  smiles  through  the  shower,  ” cried 
Thrasabad.  “ Then  Iris  is  not  far  away.” 

At  these  words  a rainbow,  wonderfully  brilliant 
in  its  colors,  arched  itself  over  the  entire  extent 
of  the  arena,  and  borne  up,  as  it  seemed,  on  golden 
clouds,  a young  maiden,  holding  gracefully  above 
her  head  a seven-colored  veil,  flew  slowly  from 
right  to  left  across  the  scene. 

When  she  had  vanished,  and  the  rainbow  and 
the  sun  had  also  disappeared,  and  while  the  ex- 
clamations of  astonishment  still  continued,  a 
group  of  charming  Cupids,  children  of  from  four 
to  nine  years  of  age,  descended  from  the  openings 
in  the  canopy  by  chains  of  roses.  Received  by 
the  slaves  and  released  from  their  floral  bonds, 
tKey  grouped  themselves  upon  the  steps  of  the 
altar  around  the  still  concealed  figure,  towards 
which  all  eyes  were  now  turned  in  curiosity. 

Then  Thrasabad,  leaving  the  drinking-table. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  141 

strode  over  to  the  altar,  still  holding  on  his  arm 
Glauca,  who  had  gently  taken  the  freshly  filled 
cup  from  his  hand.  The  uproarious  applause 
which  now  greeted  him  utterly  deprived  the  vain 
young  man  of  his  little  remaining  discretion.  As 
.Jie  stood  upon  the  top  step  and  dragged  after  him 
the  vainly  resisting  Glauca,  he  staggered,  as  if 
about  to  fall.  “ Behold,  brother !”  he  cried  with 
unsteady  voice,  “ here  is  my  wedding-present.  In 
the  senator’s  villa  at  Cirta — what  was  his  name  ? 
He  was  burned  to  death  because  he  obstinately 
remained  a Catholic — No  matter ! I bought  from 
the  fiscal  the  confiscated  estate  ; there  are  mag- 
nificent old  mosaics  there — hunting-pictures,  with 
stags,  dogs,  noble  horses,  and  beautiful  women 
beneath  the  palm-trees.  In  rebuilding  the  cellar, 
under  some  broken  columns  this  statue  was  found; 
it  is  said  to  be  more  than  five  hundred  years 
old — a treasure  from  the  best  period  of  Grecian 
art — so  says  my  freedman>  who  understands  such 
things — an  Aphrodite.  Brother,  I give  her  to 
you.  Reveal  thyself,  queen  of  Paphos  ! ” Grasp- 
ing a broad  knife  that  lay  upon  the  pedestal,  he 
severed  the  cords  which  fastened  the  wrappings. 
As  these  fell  away,  they  revealed  a wondrously 
beautiful,  superbly  formed  Aphrodite,  sculptured 
in  pure  white  marble. 


142  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

The  Cupids  knelt  down  at  the  feet  of  the  god- 
dess and  twined  their  garlands  around  her  knees. 
At  the  same  time  there  fell  from  above  upon  the 
altar  and  the  statue  a dazzling  white  light,  bril- 
liantly illuminating  the  arena,  which  generally 
was  lighted  not  too  distinctly  and  only  by  means 
of  lamps. 

Greater  than  even  before  were  the  enthusiastic 
plaudits  of  the  people ; on  went  the  frenzied 
dance,  wilder  and  quicker,  and  louder  swelled  the 
music  of  the  drums  and  cymbals.  But  this  sud- 
denly increased  noise  and  the  glare  of  light 
reached  also  the  uncovered  cage  of  the  tiger. 
With  a fearful  howl  he  gave  a mighty  bound 
against  the  bars  ; one  of  them  fell  noiselessly 
outward  on  the  soft  white  sand.  Nobody  noticed 
it.  For  about  the  goddess  upon  the  altar  a new 
scene  was  being  enacted. 

“ Thanks,  brother !”  cried  Thrasaric.  “That  is 
certainly  the  most  beautiful  woman  a man  can 
conceive  of.” 

“Yes,”  assented  Modigisel.  “What  now, 
Astarte  ? Why  that  mocking  smile  ? What 
fault  can  you  find  with  her?” 

“Why,  that  is  not  a woman,”  said  the  "Cartha- 
ginian, coldly,  scarcely  parting  her  lips.  “ That 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


H3 


is  a stone.  Go  to  her,  kiss  her,  if  she  seems  to 
you  more  beautiful  than — ” 

“ Astarte  is  right !”  shouted  Thrasabad,  beside 
himself  with  excitement.  “ She  is  right  ! Of 
what  use  is  a Venus  made  of  stone?  A cold, 
dead,  marble  goddess  of  love  ? She  folds  her 
arms  forever  upon  her  bosom — she  cannot  open 
them  for  a blissful  embrace.  And  how  majestic 
she  looks,  as  if  the  delights  of  love  were  some 
grave  and  serious  thing!  No,  marble  statue,  you 
are  not  the  fairest  woman.  The  fairest  woman — 
far  more  beautiful  than  you — is  my  Aphrodite 
here.  Mine  is  the  loveliest  woman  in  the  world  ! 
With  envy  you  shall  confess  it.  I will  have  it  so. 
You  shall  all  confess  it.” 

And.  with  surprising  strength  he  drew  the  fair 
Greek  up  to  him,  in  spite  of  all  her  struggles, 
placed  her  upon  the  broad  pedestal  of  the  statue, 
and  pulled  fiercely  at  the  white  silk  which  Glauca, 
while  on  the  ship,  had  thrown  over  her  bare 
shoulders  and  gossamer-like  drapery. 

“ No,  no!  Desist,  my  love  ! Do  not  disgrace 
me  before  the  eyes  of  all,”  pleaded  the  girl,  strug- 
gling desperately.  “ Desist — or  by  the  living 
God—” 

But  the  Vandal,  no  longer  master  of  himself, 


t44  THE  last  of  the  vandals. 

burst  into  a loud  laugh:  41  Off  with  these  dis- 
figuring wraps !” 

And  again  he  sought  to  tear  away  the  piece  of 
silk  and  the  thin  raiment  beneath  it*.  But  before 
he  could  succeed  in  his  purpose  a broad  knife 
gleamed  in  the  air — the  frantic  girl  had  snatched 
it  from  the  pedestal — and  a warm  stream  of  blood 
spurted  from  her  Bosom  into  his  face.  Then  her 
beautiful  form  sank  down  at  the  foot  of  the  mar- 
ble statue. 

“ Glauca  ! Glauca!”  cried  Thrasabad,'  sobered 
at  once  through  horror. 

But  at  that  very  moment,  drowning  all  the  wild 
turmoil  of  the  music  and  the  dance,  was  heard 
from  without  the  amphitheatre  the  clear,  martial 
blast  of  a Vandal  war-horn.  And  from  the  en- 
trance-doors, as  well  as  from  the  upper  rows  of 
seats,  which  afforded  an  outlook  upon  the  Grove, 
burst  from  a thousand  throats  the  cry : 

“The  king!  The  king!  King  Gelimer!” 

Then  followed  a mad,  chaotic  attempt  to  escape 
from  the  building,  and  a struggling,  terrified  crowd 
poured  forth  from  every  exit. 

Thrasaric  drew  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  took 
the  trembling  Eugenia  in  his  strong  arms,  and 
sturdily  forced  his  way  through  the  throng. 

The  voice  of  the  Mercury  was  no  longer  heard, 


145 


The  last  of  The  vandals. 

for  Thrasabad  lay  stretched  at  the  feet  of  the 
silent  marble  goddess,  clasping  in  his  arms  the 
lifeless  body  of  the  beautiful  Glauca.  And  soon 
he  was  alone  with  her  in  the  vast,  deserted  build- 
ing. 

Without,  at  some  distance,  arose  the  sound  of 
voices  in  contention.  But  in  the  amphitheatre 
there  was  the  stillness  of  death.  Even  the  tiger 
was  silent,  as  if  astonished  at  the  sudden  quiet 
and  solitude. 

It  was  now  past  midnight.  The  wind  was 
rising  and  playing  merrily  through  the  openings 
in  the  silken  canopy;  soon  it  grew  bolder  and  be- 
gan chasing  the  roses  that  lay  scattered  upon  the 
floor  of  the  arena. 


XVII. 

The  guests  of  Thrasaric  stood  grouped  in  the 
broad  open  space  before  the  amphitheatre,  most 
of  them  with  the  feelings  and  demeanor  of  chil- 
dren whom  their  taskmaster  has  just  detected  in 
some  forbidden  act. 

Thrasaric  himself  had  shaken  off  the  last  traces 
of  intoxication.  “ The  king?”  said  he  softly  to 


146  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

himself.  “ The  hero?  I am  ashamed/'  And  he 
pushed  back  from  his  brow  the  wreath  of  roses  he 
wore. 

Hereupon  Gundomar  came  up  to  him  with  a 
haughty  air,  his  hand  on  his  sword. 

“ Son  of  Thrasamer,  fear  is  a thing  you  have 
never  yet  known.  We  must  defy  this  tyrant. 
Show  him  as  firm  a front  as  we  shall/' 

Thrasaric  made  no  reply;  he  only  shook  his 
massive  head  and  repeated  to  Eugenia,  whom  he 
had  set  down  beside  him : “I  am  ashamed  to 
meet  the  king.  And  my  brother!  my  poor 
brother !” 

“ Poor|  Glauca !”  sighed  Eugenia.  “ But  per- 
haps she  is  to  be  envied." 

Again  the  horns  sounded,  this  time  much 
nearer,  and  the  king,  whose  approach  had  been 
distinctly  perceptible  for  some  distance  along  the 
straight  military  highway,  came  galloping  up,  far 
in  advance  of  his  followers.  Only  a couple  of 
slaves  with  torches  had  been  able  to  keep  pace 
with  him  ; his  brothers,  who  had  stopped  to  col- 
lect a troop  of  horse,  were  still  far  behind.  Right 
before  Thrasaric  and  the  nobles  who  surrounded 
him  the  king  reined  in  his  panting  steed. 

“ Unprincipled  men,  lawless  people  of  the  Van- 
dals !”  he  exclaimed  in  threatening  tones.  “ Is  it 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  H7 

thus  you  obey  your  king's  command?  Are  you 
determined  to  bring  the  wrath  of  Heaven  upon 
your  heads?  Who  gave  these  orgies?  Where  is 
their  leader  ?" 

“ I gave  them,  O king,"  said  Thrasaric,  advanc- 
ing a step.  “ I am  very  sorry.  Punish  me.  But 
spare  him  who  conducted  them  at  my  request — 
my  brother  ; he  has— 

“ Disappeared  together  with  the  dead  girl,  with- 
out leaving  a trace,"  broke  in  Gundobad.  “ I 
wished  to  summon  him  to  head  with  us  Gundings 
the  common  cause  of  the  nobles  against  this 
king—” 

“ For  this  hour,"  interrupted  Gundomar,  “will 
show  whether  we  are  the  slaves  of  the  Asdings  or 
free  noblemen." 

“ I,  for  my  part,  am  tired  of  being  commanded," 
joined  in  Modigisel. 

“ Our  blood  is  in  no  respect  inferior  to  yours," 
cried  Gundobad  angrily  to  the  king.  And  now 
around  the  two  Gundings  a considerable  band  of 
their  kinsmen,  friends,  and  followers  had  gathered, 
many  of  them  provided  with  weapons. 

Thrasaric  was  about  to  advance  into  the  midst 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  threatened  coll- 
ect, but  b§for§  he  could  do  so  he  was-syrrounded 


I48  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

by  a number  of  his  slaves,  accompanied  by  some 
belonging  to  his  brother. 

“ Master,”  they  cried,  “ Thrasabad  has  dis- 
appeared. What  shall  take  place  next?  The 
festival — ” 

“ Is  over.  Alas  that  it  ever  began  !” 

“ But  the  race  over  there  in  the  circus?” 

“ There  will  be  no  race.  Bring  out  the  horses. 
Return  them  to  their  owners.” 

“ I will  not  take  the  stallion  back  until  we  have 
had  our  throw,”  called  out  Modigisel.  “ I hold 
yoirto  your  word.” 

“And  the  wild  beasts,”  urged  a freedman, 
“ They  are  howling  for  food.” 

“ Let  them  remain  where  they  are.  Feed 
them.” 

“ And  the  captive  Moor — ” 

No  time  was  given  for  an  answer.  For  while 
the  horses,  among  them  the  black  stallion,  were 
being  led  out  from  the  circus  into  the  open  space 
between  that  building  and  the  amphitheatre, 
loud  shouts  arose  at  the  portals  of  the  latter. 

“ The  Moor ! The  prisoner ! He  has  escaped  ! 
There  he  runs ! Stop  him  !” 

Thrasaric  turned  and  saw  the  youthful  figure  of 
the  Moor  coming  straight  towards  him.  His 
hands  and  feet  had  been  bound  with  ropes.  The 


ft 


THE  LA  S 1 OL  THE  VANDA  LS.  149 

bonds  around  his  feet  he  had  succeeded  in  tear- 
ing off,  but  not  the  strong  cord,  about  a foot  long, 
which  fastened  together  his  wrists.  It  hindered 
him  greatly  that  he  could  not  use  his  hands  to 
break  his  way  through  the  crowd. 

“ Let  him  go,”  commanded  Thrasaric. 

“No!”  cried  the  pursuers.  “He  has  just 
knocked  down  his  master  with  a blow  of  his  fist. 
His  mastef  has  commanded  that  he  shall  die.  A 
thousand  serterces  to  any  one  who  captures  him  !” 
Upon  this  stones  began  to  be  thrown,  and  here 
and  there  a spear. 

“A  thousand  sesterces!”  cried  one  Roman  to 
another.  “ Friend  Victor,  let  us  become  recon- 
ciled and  earn  this  money  together.” 

“Agreed!  Equal  shares,  Laurus  !” 

Meantime  the  fugitive  was  running  as  swiftly  as 
he  could  towards  Thrasaric.  The  supple,  well- 
formed  figure  drew  nearer  and  nearer.  The  flush 
upon  his  youthful  face  was  that  of  anger  rather 
than  fear. 

When  right  at  Thrasaric’s  side,  Laurus  grasped 
the  rope  that  bound  together  the  fugitive’s  hands ; 
there  was  a violent  jerk — the  Moor  fell.  Victor 
seized  him  by  the  arm.  “ The  thousand  sesterces 
are,  ours!”  cried  Laurus,  and  drew  the  rope  tow- 
ards him. 


ISO  THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 

“No!”  exclaimed  Thrasaric,  and,  tearing  the 
short  sword  from  his  belt,  he  severed  the  cord  at  a 
stroke.  “Flee,  Moor!”  ^ 

In  an  instant  the  latter  was  on  his  feet.  He 
cast  a grateful  look  at  the  Vandal  and  then  darted 
out  among  the  horses. 

“ Ah,  my  horse ! The  black  stallion  !”  cried 
Modigisel. 

But  the  Moor  was  already  on  the  back  of  the 
noble  animal.  A word  in  his  ear — a leap  right 
out  into  the  crowd,  which  scattered  and  made 
way  for  them,  and  horse  and  rider  were  dashing 
at  full  speed  along  the  road  towards  Numidia.  It 
seemed  but  a moment  before  they  disappeared  in 
the  protecting  darkness  of  the  night. 

“ My  horse !”  grumbled  the  angry  Modigisel. 
“That  costs  me  the  game  with  the  dice.” 

Thrasaric  gazed  in  astonishment  after  the  black 
stallion.  “God,  I thank  thee!”  he  exclaimed. 
“ I will  try  .to  merit  this.  Come,  my  little  one ! 
To  the  king!  He  seems  to  need  me.” 

The  demonstration  of  the  nobles  and  their  fol- 
lowers against  the  king  had  ^become  more  and 
more  threatening,  but  the  latter  maintained  his 
position  unflinchingly, 

“ We  will  not  allow  ourselves  to  be  coerced  by 
you,”  said  Gundomarf 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . IS  I 

“We  will  not  suffer  ourselves  to  be  deprived 
of  the  free  enjoyment  of  life,,>  cried  Modigisel. 
“ To-morrow,  friends, — whether  this  king  is  willing 
or  not, — I invite  you  all.  We  will  meet  here  again 
in  this  arena,  under  this  silken  canopy.*’ 

“That  you  will  not,”  the  king  said  quietly,  and 
taking  the  torch  from  the  hand  of  the  nearest 
slave,  he  rose  in  his  stirrups  and  hurled  it  with  sure 
aim,  over  the  heads  of  the  crowd,  right  into  the 
midst  of  the  silken  tent,  which  at  once  took  fire 
and  flamed  up  in  a bright  blaze. 

“ How  dare  you  ?”  shouted  Gundobad.  “This 
building  is  not  yours.  It  belongs  to  the  Vandal 
people.  How  dare  you  destroy  their  pleasures, 
merely  because  you  cannot  share  them  ?” 

“ And  why  can  you  not  share  them  ?”  continued 
Gundomar,  hotly.  “ Because  you  are  not  a true 
man,  not  a genuine  Vandal.” 

“A  dreamer — no  king  for  a nation  of  heroes!” 

“ What  mean  those  sudden  fits  of  trembling 
that  so  often  seize  you  ?” 

“Who  knows  whether  some  secret  guilt  does 
not  oppress  you  ?”- 

“ Who  knows  whether  your  courage  would  not 
fail,  if  danger — ” 

Just  then  there  came  from  the  crowd  immedi- 


152  The  last  of  the  vAndals. 

ately  in  front  of  the  amphitheatre  a wild  cry  of 
horror,  of  deadly  fright : 

“The  tiger!  The  tiger  is  loose !” 

A mad  rush  to  escape  followed.  In  the  despera- 
tion of  their  fear  a dense  mass  of  men,  women, 
and  children  plunged  forward,  encountered  other 
groups  of  people,  and  struggled  to  force  their  way 
through  them.  Many  stumbled,  fell,  and  were 
trodden  under  foot. 

Above,  under  one  of  the  archways  forming  the 
second  story  of  the  amphitheatre  and  directly  op- 
posite to  the  king,  crouched  the  tiger,  lashing  his  ; 
sides  with  his  tail,  and  all  ready  for  a leap.  His 
broken  chain  still  hung  from  his  neck,  and  his  openi 
jaws  were  twitching  in  the  struggle  between  rav- 
enous desire  and  dread  of  the  blazing  torches  and. 
the  throng  of  people  below  him.' 

Hunger  at  ’length  prevailed  over  fear.  His> 
eager  glance  had  fallen  upon  one  of  the  race-horses; 
which  stood  before  the  amphitheatre.  Between, 
him  and  his  prey  swarmed  a mass  of  people — the: 
leap  was,  besides,  almost  too  far — but  his  voracious 
craving  urged  the  huge  beast  on,  and  with  a low 
cry  he  gave  a fearful  spring  over  the  heads  of  the 
people  towards  his  chosen  victim.  But  the  whole 
shrieking  mass  of  humanity  surged  forward  in  the 
same  direction,  the  horses  shied,  and  the  spring 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


*53 


did  not  reach"  its  mark.  The  tiger  had  lit  upon 
the  ground  several  feet  short  of  the  horse,  which, 
breaking  from  its  halter,  bounded  away. 

The  tiger  never  repeats  a leap  that  has  failed. 
Accordingly,  Hasdrubal  started  to  sneak  off,  as  if 
ashamed.  But  as  he  drew  back  his  right  fore-paw, 
it  fell  upon  soft,  warm,  living  flesh. 

It  was  a child,  a four-year-old  girl,  in  the  gay, 
tinselled  attire  of  the  amorettes . Some  moments 
before  she  had  been  torn  from  her  mother's  side 
and  knocked  down  in  the  rush.  She  lay  upon  her 
face  on  the  soft  turf,  the  tender,  rosy  flesh  of  her 
neck  and  shoulders  unprotected  and  exposed. 
The  tiger’s  claws  instinctively  fastened  on  this 
tempting  morsel  and  clutched  the 'child  by  the 
throat — but  only  for  an  instant.  Then  he  sud- 
denly bounded  back  the  length  of  his  body,  with 
a howl  of  rage  more  terrible  than  any  he  had 
uttered  before.  This  was  caused  by  an  adversary 
who,  advancing  on  foot,  dared  to  dispute  with  him 
the  prey  he  had  secured.  The  great  beast  crouched 
again  for  a spring,  which,  had  it  succeeded,  must 
have  crushed  by  its  force  any  man  to  the  ground.. 
But  before  the  leap  could  be  made,  his  opponent 
stood  right  before  the  gaping  jaws  and  had  driven 
between  them  up  to  the  hilt  a Vandal  sword,  aimr 


154  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

ing  the  weapon  from  below  slightly  upward,  so 
that  its  point  pierced  the  vertebrae. 

At  first  the  man,  carried  along  by  the  impetus 
of  the  blow,  sank  down  upon  the  body  of  the 
dead  tiger,  but  in  an  instant  he  sprang  to  his 
feet,  stepped  back,  and  lifted  from  the  ground  the 
terrified  child. 

“ Gelimer ! Long  live  King  GeJimer ! Hail  to 
the  hero!”  shouted  the  multitude,  even  the  Ro- 
mans joining  in  the  acclamations. 

“ King,  you  are  not  injured?”  asked  Thrasaric. 

“ No  more  than  the  child,”  replied  Gelimer, 
calmly,  as  he  placed  the  little  one  in  the  arms  of 
its  weeping  and'  frightened  mother.  The  woman 
stooped  and  kissed  the  border  of  the  king’s  white 
mantle,  all  stained  as  it  was  with  the  tiger’s  blood. 

Gelimer  wiped  his  bloody  sword  on  the  skin  of 
the  beast  and  thrust  the  weapon  into  its  sheath. 
Then  he  stepped  back  to  his  horse  and  stood  with 
his  tall  form  leaning  against  its  shoulder.  Even 
as  king  he  still  wore  his  old  helmet  with  the  black 
vulture’s  wings — ^they  seemed  now  to  look  down 
threateningly,  as  if  alive---having  simply  added 
to  it,  around  the  head-piece,  Geiseric’s  dentated 
crown.  As  he  glanced  at  those  around  him,  there 
came  over  his  countenance  a look  of  sorrowful 
contempt. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 155 

A deep  silence  ensued  ; for  the  time  words  failed 
even  the  boldest  of  the  nobles. 

Just  then  the  remains  of  the  burning  canopy 
flared  up  brightly  once  more  and  fell  crackling 
into  the  arena. 


XVIII. 

The  brothers  of  the  king  now  rode  up  at  the 
head  of  their  troop  of  horsemen.  They  had  been 
witnesses  from  a distance,  over  the  heads  of  the 
crowd,  of  the  scene  that  had  just  taken  place. 
Springing  from  their  horses,  they  pressed  with 
enthusiasm  Gelimer’s  hands. 

“ What  is  the  matter,  brother?”  asked  Giba- 
mund.  “ Tha*t  is  not  the  mien  of  a deliverer.” 

“ O brother,’*  sighed  Gelimer,  “ pity  me  ! I am 
disgusted  with  my  people.  And  that  is  hard  ! 
hard  !” 

“Yes,  for  we  have  nothing  better,”  said  Zaro, 
earnestly. 

“ On  earth,”  replied  the  king,  moodily.  “ But 
is  it  not  a sin  to  love  this  earthly  thing  so  passion- 
ately ? All  that  is  earthly  is  vanity.  Is  it  not  the 
same  with  one’s  people  and  fatherland  ?”  And 


156  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

sunk  in  gloomy  thoughts,  he  seemed  to  become 
oblivious  of  the  scene  around  him. 

“ King  Gelimer,  awake  !”  cried  a warning  voice 
from  the  crowd. 

It  was  Thrasaric,  who  had  beheld  with  astonish- 
ment the  sudden  transformation  in  the  king's^ 
manner.  The  giant  also  had  started  to  attack 
the  tiger,  but  the  king,  who  had  noticed  before 
all  the  threatened  leap,  had  anticipated  him — and 
still  another. 

The  older  of*  the  two  strangers  had  quietly 
taken  a position  with  his  spear  poised  to  throw. 
“ That  was  a good  stroke,  Theudigisel,”  he  whis- 
pered. “ But  let  us  see  how  the  affair  ends. 
This  king  is  losing  his  best  opportunity.” 

And  so  it  seemed.  For  in  the  mean  time  the 
nobles  had  partly  recovered  from  their  confusion 
and  feeling  of  shame.  Once  more,  not  so  boldly 
as  before,  but  still  defiantly  enough,  Gundomar 
stepped  forward  and  said:  “ You  are  a hero,  king. 
It  was  unjust  to  doubt  it;  although  it  is  not 
easy  for  us  to  comprehend  you.  But  we  cannot 
and  will  not  serve  even  a hero,  as  our  bear-like 
ancestors  obeyed  Geiseric.” 

“ It  is  not  necessary  and  no  longer  possible,” 
added  Modigisel.  He  began  at  first  to  lisp  and 
drawl  in  his  favorite  Greek  fashion,  but  soon  in 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  1 57 

the  earnestness  of  his  excitement  he  quite  forgot 
to  keep  up  the  affectation.  “We  are  not  now 
barbarians,  as  were  the  companions  of  the  bloody 
sea-king.  We  have  learned  from  the  Romans  to 
live  and  to  enjoy  life.  Do  not  burden  us  with  these 
heavy  weapons.  This  glorious  land  is  ours  with- 
out dispute;  no  one  can  wrest  it  from  us; — a land 
where  men  ought  merely  to  luxuriate,  not  to 
work.  Here  pleasure,  and  pleasure  only,  is  worth 
living  for.  Death,  you  know,  puts  an  end  to  all 
things.  Therefore  while  I still  live,  I will  not 
fight,  but  kiss  and  drink  and — ” 

“Become  Justinian’s  slave,”  interrupted  the 
king,  indignantly. 

“ Pshaw ! These  Greeks  will  never  dare  to 
attack  us.” 

“ Let  them  come  ! With  one  fierce  charge  we 
will  run  them  into  the  sea.” 

“ If  the  realm  were  really  in  danger,  the  Gun- 
dings  know  that  honor  calls  them  to  the  front  in 
every  Vandal  battle.” 

“ But  no  war  threatens  from  any  quarter.” 

“ There  is  no  one  rash  enough  to  provoke  a 
quarrel  with  us.” 

“ It  simply  suits  the  Asdings  to  order  about  the 
noblest  of  the  Vandals  like  Moorish  mercenaries 
or  unresisting  slaves.” 


158  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ No  longer  will  we — ” 

Modigisel  did  not  complete  his  speech,  for  the 
blast  of  a horn  and  the  noise  of  approaching 
horsemen  drew  attention  from  his  words.  A 
white  figure,  mounted  upon  a black  courser,  came 
rapidly  galloping  up,  followed  by  several  attend- 
ants. 

Two  torch-bearers  rode  beside  her  on  the  right 
and  on  the  left,  but  were  hardly  able  to  keep  pace 
with  her.  Her  long  light-golden  hair  streamed 
behind  in  the  wind ; a white  mantle,  falling  in 
broad  folds,  fluttered  about  the  rider  and  her 
horse. 

“ That  is  Hilda !”  exclaimed  Gibamund. 

“ Yes,  Hilda  and  war  !”  was  the  jubilant  reply, 
as  the  panting  steed  came  to  a stand.  Her  eyes 
flashed;  in  her  right  hand  she  waved  a parchment. 
War,  king  of  the  -Vandals  ! And  I — I am  the 
first  to  announce  to  you  the  fateful  word  which 
summons  all  you  Asdings,  like  the  blast  of  a 
war-horn,  to  victory  and  honor.” 

“ She  is  glorious !”  said  Thrasaric  to  Eugenia, 
who  nodded  assent.  “ A mantle !”  he  continued, 
looking  around.  “ She — Hilda — shall  not  see  me 
in  this  despicable  state.  Lend  me  your  mantle, 
friend  Marcomer.”  And  stripping  off  the  panther's 
skin  and  flinging  away  the  thyrsus,  he  threw 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  1 59 

around  his  bare  shoulders  the  brown  mantle  belong- 
ing to  the  leader  of  the  horsemen. 

“ How  comes  it  that  you — a woman — bring 
such  a message  ?"  asked  Gelimer,  taking  the 
parchment  from  her  hand. 

She  sprang  from  her  horse  into  her  husband's 
arms,  and  said:  “Verus  sends  me.  Ships,  with 
despatches  which  he  was  expecting,  came  into  the 
harbor.  He  intended  to  bring  this  document  to 
you  himself — it  was  the  first  which  he  received; 
but  immediately*  afterwards  several  other  impor- 
tant letters  arrived,  among  them  one  from  the 
king  the  of  Visigoths,  and  Verus  had  to  translate 
them  from  the  cipher  in  which  they  were  written. 
Therefore  he  ordered  that  I should  be  wakened. 
i To  waken  Hilda — that  means  to  awaken  war,' 
my  ancestor  Hildebrand  taught  me,"  she  con- 
cluded with  a laugh,  but  with  flashing  eyes. 

“ And  truly  like  the  leader  of  the  Valkyrias  she 
came  riding  among  us,"  said  Thrasaric,  more  to 
himself  than  to  Eugenia. 

“ Of  that,  however,  Verus  knows  nothing," 
continued  Hilda.  “ But  there  was  a peculiar 
smile  on  his  lips  as  he  said  : ‘ You  are  the  proper 
bearer  of  this  message  to  Gelimer.'  I did  not 
delay.  I bring  you  war  and — I feel  it,  king  of 
the  Vandals— an  assured  victory.  Read!” 


l6o  THE  LAST  OF  THE\  VA HEALS. 

Gelimer  unfolded  the  parchment,  the  seals  of 
which  were  already  broken,  and,  beckoning  to  him 
a torch-bearer,  read  in  a loud  voice : 

“ To  Gelimer , who  calls  himself  King  of  the 
Vandals — ” 

“ Who  is  the  insolent  writer  ?”  interrupted 
Zaro. 

“ God  a , formerly  Governor , now  King  of  Sar- 
dinia.” 

“ Goda  ? The  wretch  ! I never  trusted  him,” 
cried  Zaro, 

Since  under  false  accusations  you  have  dethroned 
and  imprisoned  King  Hilderic , I renounce  allegiance 
to  you , usurper . You  credulous  fools  forgot  that  I am 
an  Ostrogoth , but  I have  never  forgotten  it.  Almost 
the  only  one  who  escaped  when  my  comrades  were 
massacred \ I have  since  plotted  incessantly  for 
revenge.  In  blind  confidence  you  appointed  me  to 
rule  over  this  island;  now  I have  won  over  the  Sar- 
dinians to  my  support , and  I will  henceforth  rule 
them  as  their  king.  If  you  dare  to  attack  me,  know 
that  I have  appealed  to  the  protection  of  the  great 
Emperor  fustinian,  and  he  has  promised  to  extend 
it  to  me.  Far  rather  will  I be  the  subject  of  a 
powerful  emperor  than  of  a Vandal  tyrant. 

“ Goda,  King  of  Sardinia.” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


l6l 


“ Yes,  that  is  war,”  said  Gelimer  in  an  earnest 
voice.  “ Certainly  with  Sardinia;  probably  also  with  * 
Byzantium,  although  the  last  letters  from  there 
spoke  only  of  peace.  Have  you  heard  it?”  and 
he  turned  with  kingly  majesty  toward  the  nobles — 
“Have  you  heard  it,  j^ou  nobles,  and  you,  people 
of  the  Vandals  ? Shall  I write  to  the  rebel  and 
to  the  emperor  : ‘Take  and  keep  what  you  wish. 
The  descendants  of  Geiseric  object  to  the  weight 
of  weapons  and  armor’?  Will  you  now  continue 
your  festivities  in  the  circus,  or  do  you  want — ” 
“We  want  war!  war!”  shouted  Thrasaric, 
breaking  his  way  through  the  ranks  of  the  nobles. 
“King  Gelimer,  your  deed,  your  words,  the  sight  of 
this  glorious  woman,  the  insolent  letter  of  that  bold 
traitor,  have  roused  again  in  me — and  surely  in  us 
all — the  feelings  which  too  long  have  slumbered. 
And  as  I cast  away  the  unmanly  decoration  of 
these  roses” — here  he  tore  the  garland  from  his 
head  and  threw  it  to  the  ground — “so  I fling  from 
me  all  base  frivolity  and  wantonness.  Pardon 
me,  my  king,  far-sighted  hero  ! I will  atone- — 
believe  me  ! — for  what  I have  been  guilty  of ; I 
will  atone  for  it  on  the  field  of  battle.” 

Stretching  out  his  hands,  h£.,was  about  to  sink 
upon  his  knees,  but  the  king  caught  him  and  drew 
him  to  his  breast : “ Thanks,  noble  Thrasaric ! 


1 62 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 


Your  ancestor,  the  hero  Thrasafrid,  who  even  now 
looks  down  from*  heaven  upon  us,  will  be  rejoiced 
at  this.” 

But  Thrasaric  tore  himself  away  and,  turning 
to  the  nobles,  cried  : “ Not  only  myself,  but  all 
who  stand  around  us  here  I must  win  back  to 
duty  and  to  heroism.  Would  that  my  brother 
were  with  us!  Comrades,  cousins,  hear  me! 
Will  you,  like  myself,  stand  by  this  valiant  king  ? 
Will  you  obey  him?  Will  you  follow  him  to  the 
war,  faithful  even  unto  death?” 

“ We  will ! We  will  ! * To  war  and  unto  death  !” 
cried  the  nobles  to  a man.  Modigisel  shouted 
louder  even  than  the  others.  Only  Gundomar 
hesitated  an  instant,  but  then  stepped  forward 
proudly  and  spoke  : “ I did  not  believe  in  the 
war.  I considered  it  merely  a pretext  devised  by 
a too  rigorous  king  to  deprive  us  of  our  amuse- 
ments, and  to  force  us  to  a life  of  military  dis- 
cipline. But  the  insolence  of  this  Goda  and  the 
help  promised  him  by  the  perfidious  emperor  are 
affronts  we  cannot  brook.  Now  really  there 
comes  a struggle  in  which  our  kingdom  is  at 
stake.  At  such  a time  the  Gundings  range  them- 
selves side  by  side  with  the  Asdings — now,  as 
heretofore  and  always.  King  Gelimer,  you  are 
right ; I was  a fool.  Pardon  me 


THE  LAST  OF  THE ^VANDALS,  163 

“ Pardon  us  all  !”  cried  the  nobles,  excitedly 
pressing  around  the  king. 

Gelimer,  deeply  moved,  extended  his  hands 
towards  them,  which  they  enthusiastically  grasped. 

“O  Hilda,”  spoke  Thrasaric,  “ you  were  wak- 
ened in  the  very  nick  of  time  ; for  this,  in  great 
part,  is  your  work.”  And  before  Hilda  could 
reply,  he  drew  forward  the  shy  Eugenia  from  the 
myrtle  bush  behind  which  she  had  hidden  herself. 
“ Do  you  recognize  this  little  one,  my  king  ? 
Well,  then,  I have  won  her  for  my  wife — not  by 
violence ! She  herself  confesses  that — that  she 
likes  me.  It  is  hard  to  believe,  isn’t  it  ? But  she 
says  so  herself.  The  priest  has  blessed  our  union  ; 
- now  do  you  also  give  us  to  each  other  in  mar- 
riage, according  to  the  old  kingly  custom.” 

The  king  smiled  upon  the  bride.  “ May  this 
marriage  be  a symbol  of  the  reconciliation  of  the 
union  of  both  peoples  ! I will — ” 

A moment  before,  a woman  had  pressed  for- 
ward hurriedly  to  Eugenia’s  side.  Her  purple 
mantle  shone  in  the  red  glare  of  the  torches. 
Bending  over,  she  whispered  some  words  in  the 
ear  of  the  young  bride. 

Eugenia  turned  pale.  Then  the  whisper 
ceased,  and  the  woman  pointed  with  outstretched 


164  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

«c 

arm  to  the  Numidian  highway,  on  which  the 
black  stallion  had  disappeared. 

“ Oh,  then — ” groaned  the  bride,  interrupting 
the  words  of  the  king.  She  turned  hurriedly 
away  from  Thrasaric,  but  her  feet  refused  to 
support  her,  and  she  sank  swooning  to  the 
ground. 

Soft  arms  raised  her.  They  were  those  of 
Hilda,  the  war-elated  Valkyr.  With  her  left 
hand  she  drew  the  tender  form  to  her  breast, 
with  her  right  she  motioned  back  Thrasaric,  who 
in  consternation  endeavored  to  clasp  the  hand  of 
diis  bride'. 

“Back!”  said  Hilda,  firmly.  “Back  from  her! 
Whatever  it  be  that  has  caused  the  head  of  this 
lily  to  droop,  she  shall  first  raise  it  again  on  my 
breast  and  under  my  protection.  It  was  a wrong 
— a scarcely  pardonable  one — to  celebrate  your 
marriage  with  such  a bride  as  Eugenia  here,  in 
this  Grove  of  Venus.  Decide  yourself,  Thrasaric  : 
are  you  worthy — now,  at  this  moment — to  lead 
your  bride  with  you  to  your  house?'” 

A tremor  seized  the  powerful  form  of  the  giant  ; 
his  broad  chest  heaved,  he  struggled  for  breath  , 
then,  sighing  deeply,  he  shook  his  head,  and  hid 
his  face  in  the  folds  of  his  mantle. 

“ Eugenia  remains  with  me,”  said  Hilda,  sol- 


1 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  l6$ 


emnly,  and  pressed  a kiss  upon  the  pale  brow 
of  the  now  recovering  girl.  Thrasaric  glanced 
towards  her  once  more  and  then  vanished  in  the 
crowd. 

Modigisel  strode  angrily  up  to  Astarte. 
“ Snake  !”  he  cried,  and  there  was  no  affectation 
now  in  his  tones,  “ demon  ! What  did  you 
whisper  in  the  ear  of  that  poor  girl?” 

“ The  truth.” 

“No  ! He  never  really  meant  it— he  was  not 
in  earnest.  Besides,  the  black  stallion  has  gone 
to  the  devil ! My  game  is  up.” 

“ But  not  mine.” 

“You  shall  go  no  further.  I am  ashamed  of 
this  disgraceful  business.” 

“I  am  not,”  said  she,  with  a short  laugh,  look- 
ing after  Thrasaric. 

“ Obey  me,  slave,  or — ” 

He  lifted -his  arm  to  strike.  Once  more  she 
threw  her  head  back,  this  time  so  violently  that 
her  luxuriant  black  hair  loosed  itself  from  its 
golden  bands  and  fell  in  a mass  down  over  her 
shapely  white  neck ; at  the  same  time  she  pressed 
her  eyes  tightly  together  and  distinctly  ground 
her  teeth. 

As  before  there  was  something  about  this 
threatening  creature  which  he  did  not  dare  to 


i6  6 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


defy.  ' His  uplifted  hand  fell,  and  he  merely 
said  : 

“ Only  wait ! When  we  are  at  home — ” 

“ We*shall  become  reconciled  to  each  other/’ 
she  said,  a smile  on  her  lips,  but  with  a defiant 
flash  from  her  dark  eyes.  It  was  open  mockery. 
She  inspired  him  with  horror.  He  shuddered,  as 
if  in  fear. 

“ My  brother  and  king,”  said  Zaro,  incapable  of 
longer  restraining  his  impatience,  “ Grant  me  the 
pleasure  of  punishing  this  Goda.  The  fleet  lies 
ready  to  sail.  Give  me  only  five  thousand  men, 
to  be  selected  by  myself — ” 

“ We  Gundings  will  go  with  you,”  cried  Gun- 
demar. 

“ And  I promise  that  in  one  battle  I will  force 
Sardinia  back  to  obedience  and  bring  you  the 
traitor’s  head.” 

Gelimer  deliberated.  “ To  send  away  just  now 
the  entire  fleet  and  the  flower  of  the  infantry? 
Now — when  at  any  moment  the  emperor  may 
attack  us  here  in  our  own  land?  That  must  be 
carefully  considered.  I will  see  Verus—” 

“Verus?”  cried  Hilda,  eagerly.  “I  forgot  to 
tell  you.  Verus  commissioned  me  to  say  that  he 
advises  that  this  first  spark  of  rebellion  should  be 
stamped  out  at  once.  ‘ I send  you,  Hilda,’  said 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  \6j 

he,  with  a peculiar  smile,  ‘ for  I know  that  you 
will  urge  them  to  prompt  expedition/  You,  O 
king,  ought,  even  before  you  return  to  the  Capi- 
tol, to  equip  the  fleet  in  the  harbor  for  sailing 
and  to  send  it  under  Zaro  to  Sardinia.” 

“ It  is  already  equipped,”  said  Zaro,  proudly. 
“For  the  past  three  days  it  has  been  ready  to  sail 
against  the  Byzantines.  But  the  nearest  enemy 
is  the  best.  Give  the  command,  O king !” 

“ What  Verus  advises  is  well  advised,”  said" 
the  king,  earnestly.  “Zaro,  your  wish  is  granted.” 
“On  board,  then!  To  sea!  To  battle!” 
shouted  Zaro,  exultingly.  “ Follow  me,  Vandals! 
Man  once  again  the  fame-crowned  ships!  The 
blue  waves  of  the  sea  were  ever  our  chosen  fights 
ing-ground.  Do  you  not  feel  the  breath  of  the 
morning  breeze,  as  it  comes  from  the  south-south- 
east? It  is  the  very  wind  we  want  to  bear  us  to 
Sardinia.” 

“ It  is  the  god  who  presides  over  human  wishes/1 
cried  Hilda,  “that  hovers  yonder fn  the  wind  and 
directs  it.  He  sends  it  to  you,  descendants  of 
Geiseric.  Follow  its  breath.  For  it  is  the  breath 
of  victory  that  swells  your  sails.  Forward  to 
battle!” 

“Forward  to  battle!  To  sea!  To  sea!  To 
Sardinia!”  were  the  shouts  that  came  from  a thou- 


i68 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


sand  throats.  In  wild  excitement  and  full  of 
martial  enthusiasm  the  Vandals  poured  forth 
from  the  Grove  of  Venus  towards  Carthage  and 
the  harbor. 

The  Romans  gazed  after  them  in  astonishment, 
for  the  existing  generation  had  never  before  seen 
such  a demonstration  on  the  part  of  their  effemi- 
nated masters.  The  two  friends  also  came  for- 
ward out  of  the  thick  laurel-bush  from  which, 
themselves  unnoticed,  they  had  attentively  ob- 
served the  last  proceedings. 

“ What  do  you  say  now,  my  lord  ?”  asked  the 
younger.  “ Have  you  not  changed  your  mind  ?” 

“ No.” 

“ How  ? and  yet  you  saw — ” he  pointed  to  the 
dead  tiger. 

“ I saw  it.  I heard  also  the  war-cry  of  the 
people.  I am  sorry  for  the  brave  king  and  his 
house.  Let  us  to  our  boat ! The  Vandals  are 
lost.” 


XIX. 

BEFORE  the  close  of  the  following  day,  the  fleet 
had  sailed  from  Carthage.  So  thoroughly  had  it 
been  equipped  under  Zaro’s  supervision  that  all 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . . l6g 

that  remained  to  be  done  was  to  select  and  em- 
bark the  troops  required  for  the  expedition. 

Before  the  sun  set,  the  last  sail  had  disappeared 
from  sight.  In  the  evening,  Gelimer,  Gibamund, 
Hilda,  and  the  Chancellor  Verus  were  gathered 
in  council  in  the  royal  palace,  in  the  hall  of  arms, 
whose  high  round-arched  windows  afforded  a 
view  far  out  upon  the  sea. 

Gelimer  stood  beside  a marble  table  strewn 
with  letters  and  papers,  his  head  slightly  bent,  an 
earnest,  anxious  look  upon  his  noble  countenance. 

“You  have  requested  me  to  listen,  in  Giba- 
mund’s  presence,  friend  Verus,  to  important 
news  which  has  reached  you  within  the  few 
hours  since  Zaro  left  us.  From  your  appearance 
I judge  it  must  be  a serious  matter.  Well,  begin 
— I am  prepared  for  anything.  I have  the 
strength.  ” 

“You  will  need  it,”  said  the  priest,  almost 
rudely.  “ Is  Hilda  also  to  remain  ?” 

“ Let  me  stay,  O king/'  said  she,  clinging  to 
her  husband.  “ I am  a woman,  but  I can  be 
silent.  And  I wish  to  know  and  to  share  youi 
danger.’' 

Gelimer  pressed  -her  hand.  “ Remain,  then, 
brave  sister-in-law ; and  bear  with  us  what  is  de- 
creed by  the  stern  Judge  in  heaven.” 


i/O  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“It  does,  indeed,  seem/’  began  Verus,  “as  if 
the  anger  of  Heaven  pursued  you,  King  Gelimer.” 
The  king  started  ; he  closed  his  eyes,  and  a 
look  of  irrepressible  suffering  came  over  his  coun- 
tenance. 

“ Chancellor,”  exclaimed  Gibamund,  indig- 
nantly, “no  more  of  such  talk.  Your  words,  are 
daggers  which  you  keep  thrusting  into  the  soul  of 
this  most  noble  man.  I sometimes  think  that 
you  torture  him  purposely ; that,  for  reasons  of 
your  own,  you  foster  his  morbid  fencies.” 

“ Silence,  Gibamund,”  said  the  king  with  a 
grban.  “ This  is  no  morbid  fancy.  It  is  the  fear- 
ful truth  which  religion,  conscience,  and  history 
alike  teach  us : sin  will  be  punished.  When 
Verus  became  my  chancellor,  he  remained  also 
my  confessor.  Who  has  a better  right  cr  a more 
imperative  duty  than  he  to  probe  my  conscience 
and  to  crush  the  arrogant  strength  of  my  soul  by 
reminding  me  of  God’s  anger?” 

. “ But  you  need  your  strength,  King  of  the 
Vandals,”  cried  the  angry  Hilda,  with  flashing 
eyes.  “You  do  not  want  it  crushed.” 

Gelimer  waved  his  hand,  and  Verus  resumed  : 
“ It  is,  indeed,  disheartening.  Blow  upon  blow 
came  the  evil  tidings  as  soon  as  the  fleet  had  left 
the  harbor,  as  soon  as  the  last  sail  had  vanished 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  171 

from  our  sight.  First  from  the  Visigoths.  At 
the  same  time  with  the  news  from  Sardinia  there 
was  received  a long  letter  from  King  Theudis.  It 
was  sent  from  Hispalis  and  repeated  at  length 
that  he  must  carefully  consider  the  whole  matter 
and  must  satisfy  himself  what  we  can  accomplish 
in  war.” 

“ Satisfy  himself  in  Hispalis  !”  muttered  Giba- 
mund. 

Verus  continued:  “ Soon  after  our  fleet  had 
departed,  an  unknown  man  left  this  writing  at  the 
palace.  It  reads : 

“ 6 To  King  Gelimer  from  King  Theudis . 

“ * I write  this  in  the  port  of  Carthage — * ” 

“How?  Impossible!”  cried  the  three  hearers. 

“ ‘ — which  I am  just  leaving,  I wished  with  my 
own  eyes  to  study  the  true  state  of  affairs . For 
three  days  I have  been  here , unrecognized.  Then- 
digisel  alone , my  valiant  general \ accompanied  me 
on  the  fishing-boat  zvhich  brought  me  across  the 
narrow  bay  from  Kalpe , and  which  is  taking  me 
back  again  when  you  are  reading  this  letter} 
Gelhner.  You , yourself  \ are  a king  and  a hero — 
I saw  you  last  night  when  you  slew  the  tiger . . But 
you  will  not  slay  the  serpent  of  degeneracy  which 
Jias  coiled  itself  around  your  people.  It  is  true  I 
$aw  their  enthusiasm  at  last  fame  forth — it  is  a 


172  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

fire  of  straw.  Even  if  they  seriously  should  desire 
to  reform,  they  cannot  cure  in  a few  weeks  the  dis- 
ease which  has  been  growing  upon  them  for  two 
generations . The  punishment,  the  retribution  for 

our  vices  camiot  be  averted l ” The  king  sighed 
deeply.  “ 4 Woe  to  him  who  joins  his  fate  to  your 
sinking  nation  ! I offer  you,  therefore,  not  alliance , 
but  a refuge . If,  after  the  battle  you  will  lose , you 
can  escape  to  Spain — and  for  this  I will  gladly 
stretch  forth  my  hand  to  help  you— neither  fustin- 
ian  nor  B disarms  will  be  able  to  reach  you . Fare- 
well: ” 

"An  excuse  for  cowardice,”  said  Gibamund, 
hotly. 

"The  man  is  no  coward,”  sighed  Gelimer.  " He 
is  prudent.  It  seems  that  we  must  fight  alone.” 

"We  will  invite  this  prudent  King  Theudis  to 
be  our  guest  here  in  this  very  hall  at  the  celebra- 
tion of  our  victory,”  cried  Hilda. 

"Do  not  defy  Heaven  with  empty  boasting,” 
said  Gelimer,  warningly.  "We  must  manage  as. 
best  we  can  without  the  Visigoths..  Valuable  as 
their  help  would  be  to  us,  it  is  far  more  important 
that  the  Ostrogoths  shall  at  least  remain  neutral, 

• that  Sicily — ” 

" If  it  comes  to  war,”  interrupted  Verys,  " Sicily 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  1 73 

will  be  the  bridge  over  which  our  enemies  will 
pass  into  Africa.” 

The  kings  eyes  opened  wide  with  astonishment. 
Gibamund  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  Hilda,  turn- 
ing pale,  exclaimed  : “How?  My  own  people? 
The  daughter  of  the  Amelungs?” 

“ This  letter  has  just  been  received  from  the 
queen-regent.  It  is  the  composition  of  Cassiodo- 
rus.  I should  have  recognized  it  by  his  erudite 
style,  had  he  not  mentioned  himself  as  its  author. 
She  writes  that,  unable  herself  to  avenge  the 
blood  of  her  father’s  sister  and  of  many  thousand 
Goths,  she  will  rejoice  to  see  the  vengeance  of 
Heaven  carried  into  effect  by  her  friend,  the 
Emperor  of  Byzantium.” 

“ The  vengeance  of  Heaven  ! Retribution  !”  re- 
peated Gelimer,  gloomily.  “All  things  conspire  to 
bring  it  upon  us.” 

“ How?”  burst  forth  Gibamund,  fiercely.  “ Has 
the  learned  Cassiodorus  grown  childish  ? The  in- 
triguing Justinian  God’s  avenging  angel?  And 
that  she-devil,  whose  name  I cannot  even  mention 
in  the  presence  of  my  wife  ? This  pair  the  avengers 
of  God  ?” 

“ That  proves  nothing,”  replied  Gelimer.  “ The 
fathers  of  the  church  inform  us  that  God  often 


174 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


employs  base,  sinful  men  as  the  instruments  . 
his  wrath.” 

“ Wisely  said,”  spoke  the  priest  with  a nod  m 

assent.  ^ 

♦ 

Gibamund  continued  excitedly:  “ But  I canm 
believe  it.  Let  me  see.”  And  he  took  the  letu 
from  the  hand  of  the  chancellor  and  glanced 
through  it.  “ Sicily  shall  be  open  to  the  Byzan- 
tines— Justinian  her  only  true  friend.  Her  pro- 
tector and  gracious  defender !” 

“Ah!”  exclaimed  Hilda,  sorrowfully,  “did  the 
daughter  of  the  great  Theodoric  write  that  ?” 

“ But,”  Gibamund  proceeded  in  surprise,  “ that 
about  the  vengeance  of  Heaven  is  not  here  at 
all — not  a word  of  it.” 

“Not  expressly  stated,  but  clearly  implied,” 
said  Verus,  taking  back  the  letter  and  concealing 
it  in  the  folds  of  his  robe. 

The  king  had  not  noticed  this  incident.  With 
faltering  steps  he  paced  up  and  down  the  broad 
hall,  muttering  to  himself.  At  length  he  again 
approached  the  table. 

. “Go  on,”  he  said  with  a wearied  air.  “We  have, 
doubtless,  not  yet  reached  the  end.  But  the  end 
is  coming,”  he  added  in  a voice  inaudible  to  the 
others.,  v 

**  The  messenger  is  back,  O king,  whom  "you 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  175 

despatched  to  Tripolis  to  bring  Pudentius  hither 
for  trial.  ” 

“ Since  when  ?” 

“ An  hour  ago.'' 

“Without  Pudentius  ?” 

“ He  refuses  to  come.” 

“What?  I gave  my  envoy  a hundred  horse- 
men to  bring  the  traitor  here  by  force  if  neces- 
sary.” 

“They  were  greeted  with  a shower  of  darts 
from  the  wall.  Pudentius  had  closed  the  gates 
and  armed  the  citizens.  The  city,  with  all  the 
adjacent  district,  has  openly  revolted.  They  are 
evidently  counting  on  help  from  Byzantium.  Pu- 
dentius called  down  from  the  battlements  to  your 
messenger:  ‘ Now  Nemesis  has  broken  loose  to 
take  vengeance  upon  the  bloody  Vandals.'  ” 

The  king  instinctively  made  a movement  as  if 
to  ward  off  some  unseen  power  that  threatened 
him. 

“ Nemesis !”  cried  Gibamund.  “ She  shall  indeed 
break  loose  against— the  traitor.  But  while  such 
"danger  threatens  us  at  our  own  doors,  in  Africa 
itself,  we  send  away  our  best  defence,  the  fleet, 
and  also  the  flower  of  our  army  and  the  heroic 
Zaro,  to  distant  Sardinia.  Why  did  you  counsel 
such  folly,  Verus?” 


1?6  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“Am  I omniscient ?"  replied  the  priest,  shrug- 
ging his  shoulders.  “ It  was  only  an  hour  ago  the 
messengers  came  back  from  Tripolis." 

“O  brother/' urged  Gibamund,  “ give  me  two 
thousand  men — give  me  only  a thousand  horse, 
and  I will  sweep  like  a tornado  upon  Tripolis  and 
show  this  faithless  Roman  how  Nemesis  looks 
under  a Vandal  helmet." 

“Not  until  Zaro  is  back,"  replied  the  king,  with 
decision.  “Wemust  not  further  divide  our  strength. 
Zaro,  too,  must  return — at  once ! It  was  a mis- 
take to  send  him  away.  I wonder  I did  not  see 
it.  But  your  advice,  Verus — no,  I mean  no  re- 
proach. Let  a swift  ship  sail  at  once  to  order  back 
the  fleet." 

“ Too  late,  O king,"  said  Gibamund  from  the 
window  to  which  he  had  hastened.  “ The  wind 
has  changed  since  we  came  here.  It  blows  no 
longer  from  the  southeast,  but  strongly  from,  the 
north.  The  favoring  wind  has  given  the  fleet  so 
great  a start  that  no  ship  can  now  overtake  it." 

“O  God!"  sighed  the  king,  “even  thy  winds  are 
battling  against  us.  But,"  and  the  look  of  care^on 
his  brow  lifted  for  a moment,  “ perhaps  we  are  alto- 
gether wrong  in  fancying  the  danger  so  pressing. 
Byzantium  may,  indeed,  send  some  help  to  Sar. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS , IJ7 

dinia,  but  whether  Justinian  will  really  venture  to 
attack  us  here  in  our  own  land — ” 

“ My  earnest  wish  is  that  he  may  try  it ! ” ex- 
claimed Gibamund. 

Just  then  a priest — a deacon  from  the  basilica — 
entered  hurriedly  and  handed  his  superior  a sealed 
document. 

“This  letter,  Your  Reverence,”  he  said,  “has 
this  moment  arrived,  brought  by  a special  galley 
from  Byzantium.”  And  with  a respectful  saluta- 
tion he  withdrew. 

At  the  first  glance  at  the  fastening  of  the  papy- 
rus Verus  gave  a violent  start.  Such  an  action  on 
the  part  of  a man  who  habitually  exercised  an  al- 
most superhuman  control  over  his  feelings  could 
not  fail  to  make  a profound  impression  upon  all 
who  were  present. 

“What  new  calamity ?”  cried  in  dismay  even 
the  courageous  Hilda. 

“ It  is  the  sign  agreed  upon,”  said  Verus,  now 
regarding  the  letter  with  such  , cold  indifference 
that  the  transition  from  violent  emotion  to  such 
composure  might  well  have  awakened  fresh  sur- 
prise. 

All  waited  with  impatience  while  Verus  cut  the 
brownish-red  cords  with  a dagger  which  he  drew 
from  the  folds  of  his  mantle.  The  strings,  to- 


178  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

gether  with  the  little  wax  seal  which  had  held 
them  together,  fell  down  upon  the  floor.  Verus 
cast  a glance  over  the  writing  and  handed  it  at 
once,  without  comment,  to  Gelimer  The  king 
read:  “‘You  are  about  to  receive  a visit.  The 
grain-ship  has  sailed  for  Africa.  The  Persian  mer- 
chant has  charge  of  it.’” 

“ It  was  so  arranged  with  my  spy  in  Byzantium. 
A brownish-red  string  signifies,  war  is  certain ; 
‘ visit 9 denotes  invasion  ; ‘ grain-ship’  is  the  Byzan- 
tine fleet ; the  Persian  merchant — Belisarius.” 

“ That  sounds  like  a war-blast !”  exclaimed 
Hilda. 

“ Welcome,  Belisarius!”  cried  Gibamund,  lay- 
ing his  hand  on  his  sword.  _ 

The  king  threw  the  letter  on  the  table.  The 
look  on  his  face  was  serious,  but  calm.  “ Had  this 
letter  been  in  my  hands  a day,  even  a few  hours, 
sooner,”  he  said,  “all  would  have  been  different. 
Still,  I thank  you,  Verus,  that  you  have  obtained 
this  intelligence  even  to-day.” 

A scarcely  perceptible  smile — was  it  pride  or 
flattered  vanity? — flitted  over  the  thin,  bloodless 
lips  of  the  priest.  “ I had  formerly  friendly  rela- 
tions with  certain  parties  in  Byzantium.  Since  this 
danger  threatened  I have  cultivated  them  more 
diligently  than  ever.” 


THE  LAST  OF  *THE  VANDALS.  * 179 

“Well,”  spoke  the  king,  “ let  them  come.  The 
decision,  the  certainty,  will  be  a relief  to  me  after 
the  long  and  anxious  waiting.  Now  there  is  work 
to  be  done — warlike  work.  That  always  benefits 
me — it  keeps  me  from  thinking  from  brooding.” 

“ Yes,  let  them  come,”  said  Gibamund.  “ They 
enter  our  land  as  robbers,  and  as  robbers  they  will 
be  driven  off.  Why  should  the  emperor  concern 
himself  about  the  succession  to  the  Vandal  throne  ? 
The  right  is  upon  our  side,  and  God  will  give  us 
the  victory.” 

“Yes,  the  right  is  upon  our  side,”  repeated  the 
king  earnestly.  “ That  is  my  best,  my  only  hope. 
God  protects  the  right  and  punishes  the  wrong. 
Therefore  he  will  aid  us.” 

This  laical  assumption  of  being  in  the  right,  this 
intrepid  confidence,  did  not  seem  altogether  to 
please  the  priest.  With  furrowed  brow  and  fixing 
his  eyes  threateningly  on  Gelimer,  he  said  in  a 
keen,  penetrating  voice  : “ Right  ? Who  is  right 
in  the  sight  of  God  ? The  Lord  finds  sin  where 
we  ourselves  can  see  none.  And  he  punishes  not 
only  the  present — ” 

At  these  words  the  king  relapsed  into  his  former 
moodiness,  and  his  eyes  lost  their  bright  look  of 
resolve.  But  Verus  was  not  able  to  finish.  He 


i8o 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


was  interrupted  by  the  noise  of  voices  quarrelling 
in  the  passage-way  that  led  to  the  hall. 


XX. 

“ I RECOGNIZE  the  voice,”  declared  Gelimer, 
turning  anxiously  towards  the  curtain  which  over- 
hung the  entrance. 

“Yes,  it  is  our  boy,”  said  Gibamund.  “He 
seems  to  be  very  angry.” 

A moment  later  Ammata  came  rushing  in, 
dragging  after  him,  in  spite  of  all  resistance,  a 
handsomely-dressed  boy  considerably  older  than 
himse^.  One  hand  of  the  young  Vandal  was  fast- 
ened in  the  short  black  hair,  the  other  clutched  at 
the  throat  the  tunic  of  his  opponent,  whose  dark 
eyes,  short,  round  head,  and  sharply-cut  features 
j testified  to  his  Roman  origin. 

“What  now,  Ammata?  What  is  the  trouble, 
Publius  Pudentius  ?” 

“No!  no!  I will  not  let  you  go!”  cried 
Ammata.  “You  shall  repeat  it  before  the  king  !. 
And  the  king  shall  punish  you  for  lying.  Listen, 
brother.  We  were  playing  in  the  outer  hall. 
We  had  a wrestling-match,  and  I threw  him.  He 
got  up  and  angrily  protested  : ‘ That  does  not 

count,  The  devil  helped  you,  the  demon  of  your 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS , iSl 

race.  ‘Who?’  1 asked.  ‘ Well,  Geiseric,  that 
son  of  Orcus.  You  Asdings  boast  that  you  are 
descended  from  the  heathen  gods  ; but  these  are, 
as  our  deacon  teaches  us,  demons.  Hence  his 
fortune,  his  victory.  I laughed,  but  he  continued  : 
4 He  acknowledged  it  himself.  When  Geiseric 
once  sailed  from  the  harbor  of  Carthage  on  a pirate- 
ship,  and  the  helmsman  asked  him  whither  he 
should  turn  the  bow,  the  wicked  tyrant  answered  : 
“ Leave  it  to  the  wind  and  the  waves;  they  will 
bear  us  against  the  people  with  whom  God  is 
angry.”  * Is  that  true,  brother  ?” 

“ Yes,  it  is  true,”  broke  in  the  young  Roman  ; 
“ and  it  is  also  true  that  Geiseric  was  as  inhuman 
as  a demon  towards  defenceless  captives.  Enraged 
at  a destructive  storm  off  Taenarum,  he  landed  on 
the  island  of  Zacynthus,  carried  on  board  his  ves- 
sels five  hundred  men  and  women  as  prisoners, 
and,  when  out  at  sea,  had  the  whole  five  hundred 
chopped  into  pieces,  beginning  at  their  feet,  and 
the  pieces  cast  into  the  sea.” 

“ Brother,  that  is  surely  not  true !”  exclaimed 
Ammata  in  great  excitement.  “ What  ? You 
are  silent?  You  turn  away!  You  cannot — ” 

“ No,  he  cannot  deny  it,”  cried  Pudentius,  de- 
fiantly. " Do  you  see  how  pale  he  is  ? Geiseric 
was  a devil.  YQur  whole  race  is  sprung  from  hell 


1 82  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

The  cruelty  with  which  he  and  his  successors 
treated  us  Romans,  us  Catholics,  was  monstrous ! 
But  only  wait ! As  surely  as  there  is  a God  in 
heaven,  it  will  not  remain  unpunished.  You 
have  inherited  his  curse.  How  is  it  written  in, 
the  Scriptures?  ‘ I will  visit  the  iniquity  of  the 
fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and 
fourth  generation.’  ” 

A low  groan  burst  from  the  king.  He  stag- 
gered, sank  down  upon  the  couch,  and  concealed 
his  face  in  the  folds  of  his  purple  mantle. 

Ammata  gazed  at  him  in  consternation.  Hilda 
pushed  Ammata  and  the  young  Roman  quickly 
to  one  side,  and  motioned  to  them  to  leave  the 
room. 

“ Go  ! ” she  whispered.  “ Make  up  your  quar- 
rel ; you  must  be  reconciled  to  each  other.  These 
things  do  not  concern  you  boys.  Make  it  up,  I 
say.” 

Good-naturedly  Ammata  held  out  his  hand, 
The  Roman  took  it,  but  hesitatingly  and  unwill- 
ingly. 

“ Just  see,”  said  Ammata,  stooping  down, 
M what  luck  ! And  he  picked  up  from  the  floor 
the  piece  of  brownish-red  cord  to  which  the  little 
wax  seal  was  attached. 

That’s  so,”  said  Pudentius  with  surprise,  “ It 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANbALS.  183 

is  the  very  seal  which  Verus  refused  to  give  us  for 
our  collection  of  seals  and  impressions.” 

“ What  a peculiar  one  it  is  ! A scorpion  sur- 
rounded by  fiames.” 

“ Last  week  when  I saw  the  letter  lying  open 
on  his  table,  the  seal  and  the  string  beside  it,  how 
I begged  for  it  !” 

“ He  rapped  me  over  the  fingers  when  I reached 
out  to  take  it.” 

“ I thought  then  it  must  be  very  valuable.” 

“ And  now  we  find  it  thrown  away,  on  the 
floor.” 

“ He  could  just  as  well  have  given  it  to  us  then, 
after  he  had  opened  the  letter.” 

“ He  never  knows  what  it  is  to  have  a kindly 
impulse.  He  always  looks  as  if  he  had  come 
straight  from  the  world  below.” 

“ Come,  let  us  go.” 

The  boys  left  the  room  apparently  reconciled  ; 
but  for  how  long?  No  one  had  overheard  their 
whispered  talk. 

Gibamund  bent  over  his  brother.  “ Gelimer,” 
said  he  sorrowfully,  rouse  yourself!  How  can 
the  words  of  a child — ” 

“ Oh,  it  is  true — all  too  true.  It  is  the  torment 
of  my  life.  Even  the  children  perceive  it  and 
speak  of  it.  On  account  of  the  sins  of  our  fathers 


184  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

the  fearful  and  avenging  God  inflicts  punishment 
upon  us,  upon  our  people,  and  especially  upon  the 
race  of  Geiseric.  We  are  accursed  because  of 
the  guilt  of  our  ancestors.  On  the  judgment  day 
our  accusers  will  rise  even  from  the  depths  of  the 
sea.  When  the  Son  of  man  shall  appear  in  the 
clouds  of  the  sky  and  the  call  shall  go  forth, 4 Earth, 
open  thy  depths,  and  thou  O sea,  give  up  thy 
dead/  then  those  mangled  victims  will  testify 
against  us.” 

“Not  so;  most  certainly  not!”  cried  Giba- 
mund.  “ Verus,  do  not  stand  there  so  cold  and 
silent,  with  folded  arms.  You  see  how  your 
friend,  your  penitent,  is  suffering.  His  soul  is  in 
your  care — help  him  ! Relieve  him  from  this  de- 
lusion. Tell  him  that  God  is  a god  of  mercy,  and 
that  every  mortal  atones  only  for  his  own  sins.” 

But  the  priest  answered  sternly : “ I cannot 

speak  falsely  before  the  king.  Your  sentiments, 
young  man,  are  those  of  a layman,  a German, 
almost  those  of  a heathen.  The  king,  the  matured 
man,  has  profited  alike  by  the  spiritual  teaching 
of  the  fathers  of  the  church  and  the  secular  wis- 
dom of  the  philosophers.  He  is  a devout  Chris- 
tian. And  he  knows  that  God  is  a fearful  avenger 
of  sin.  Gelimer  is  right,  you  are  wrong.” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA JVDALS.  1 85 

“ Then  let  me  cling  to  the  follies  of  my  youth  !” 
exclaimed  Gibamund. 

“ And  me  to  my  heathen  gods!”  added  H,ilda. 
“ They,  at  least,  make  their  worshippers  glad- 
hearted.” 

“ While  your  pious  wisdom  makes . the  king 
miserable.” 

“ It  might  even  be  capable  of  paralyzing  his 
power — ” 

“Had  he  not  inherited  such  glorious  strength 
from  those  ancestors  you  revile  so  bitterly.” 

“ And  with  it  the  curse  for  their  sins,”  mut- 
tered Gelimer  to  himself. 

“ It  is  worth  while  to  consider,”  said  Verus,  slow- 
ly, “ whether,  in  addition  to  the  other  captives,  we 
ought  not  also  to  cast  into  prison  this  Publius 
Pudentius,  the  son  whom  the  rebel  was  not  able 
to  take  with  him  in  his  hasty  flight.” 

“The  child?  Why?”  asked  Hilda,  reproach- 
fully. 

“ It  was  a wise  prudence  on  the  part  of  your 
kings,”  proceeded  Verus,  quietly,  “ always  to  keep 
in  their  service  the  sons  of  distinguished  Romans 
— ostensibly  out  of  respect  to  their  fathers,  in 
reality  as  hostages  for  their  fidelity.” 

“ Is  Gelimer,  the  good-hearted  Gelimer,  to  pun- 
ish the  innocent  son  for  the  guilt  of  his  father, 


1 86 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, . 


like  your  terrible  God  ?”  asked  Gibamund,  indig- 
nantly. 

“ I could  never  do  that,”  said  Gelimer. 

“ So  the  traitor  thinks,”  replied  Verus.  “ He 
relics  upon  your  kindness  of  heart.  Consequent- 
ly he  rebels,  although  his  son  is  in  your  hands.” 

“ Set  all  these  boys  free.  Let  them  go  to  their 
families.” 

“ That  would  not  do.  They  have  seen  and 
heard  too  much  of  our  preparations — and  of  our 
weakness ; they  are  old  enough  to  do  us  irrepa- 
rable damage,  if  they  should  reveal  what  they 
know  to  our  enemies.  They  must  remain  in  the 
city,  in  the  palace.  But  I will  leave  you  now ; 
my  work  calls  me.” 

“ One  thing  more,  Verus.  It  grieves  me  that  I 
was  unable  to  wring  from  Zaro  before  his  depart- 
ure his  consent  to  that  which  I have  long  strug- 
gled to  obtain  from  him.”  . 

“’What  do  j/ou  mean?”  asked  Hilda. 

“ I can  guess,”  observed  Gibamund.  “ It  con- 
cerns the  captives  in  the  prison  under  the  citadel. 
When,  in  spite  of  the  protest  of  Zaro  and  the 
whole  people,  Gelimer  spared  the  life  of  Hilderic 
and  of  Euages  and  changed  into  imprisonment 
the  punishment  of  death  decreed  by  the  assembly 
of  the  people,  he  was  compelled  to  promise  Za 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  1 8 7 

never  without  his  consent  to  set  the  captives 
free.” 

“ I wish  to  release  them  now,  but  Zaro  has  my 
word,  and  I could  not  persuade  him.” 

“ He  is  right,”  said  Verus. 

“What?  You,  the  priest,  oppose  this  com- 
passion and  pardon?”  Hilda  asked  in  astonish- 
ment. +- 

“ I am  also  the  chancellor  of  the  realm.  The 
former  king  would  be  altogether  too  dangerous, 
were  he  at  liberty.  Romans  and  Catholics — he  is 
said,  you  know,  secretly  to  have  confessed  that 
faith — might  rally  around  him,  and  at  the  court 
of  the  emperor  the  lawful  king  of  the  Vandals 
would  be  just  the  weapon  sought  for  against  the 
tyrant  Gelimer.  It  is  better  Jhat  the  prisoners 
remain  where  they  are.  Their  lives  are,  of  course, 
secure.” 

“ They  have  repeatedly  demanded  a hearing — 
they  wish  to  justify  themselves.  This  continued 
solicitation — ” 

“ Their  request  has  always  been  granted.  T 
myself  have  examined  them.” 

“ What  resulted  from  it  ?” 

“ Nothing  that  I did  not  already  know.  Did 
you  not  yourself  detect  the  coat-of-mail  concealed 


1 88  THE  LAST  OF -THE  VANDALS' 

under  Hilderic’s  robes,  and  wrest  from  his  grasp 
the  dagger?’' 

“ Unfortunately,  yes.  But  I mistrust  myself 
so  easily.  Ambition,  the  desire  for  this  crown — 
one  of  my  heaviest  sins  ! — made  me  only  too 
willing  to  believe  in  Hilderic's  guilt.  And  now 
the  captive  king,  asserting  his  innocence  and 
appealing  to  a letter  of  warning  received  by  him 
on  that  very  day, — a letter  which  he  maintains 
will  make  all  clear, — demands  that  we  shall  again 
pass  judgment  upon  him.  You  have,  however, 
fulfilled  his  wish,  and  searched  for  the  letter  in 
the  place  where  they  say  it  was  deposited  ?" 

“ Certainly,"  said  Verus,  calmly,  and  his  impas- 
sive features  became  still  more  austere.  “ The 
letter  is  a mere^  invention.  When  Hilderic  re- 
peatedly maintained  that  he  had  concealed  it  in  a 
secret  compartment  of  ‘ Geiseric's  golden  cabinet,' 
I myself,  in  private,  with  my  own  hands  carefully 
searched  the  entire  place.  I found,  indeed,  the 
secret  compartment  and  opened  it,  but  no  such 
letter  was  there.  Yes,  more  : upon  Hilderic's 
reiterated  entreaties,  I even  had  the  cabinet 
carried  to  his  cell  and  let  him  look  through  it  him- 
self, in  the  presence  of  witnesses.  He  also  found 
nothing." 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  1 89 

“ And  no  one  could  previously  have  abstracted 
the  letter  ?”  asked  Gelimer. 

“ Only  you  and  myself  have  the  keys  to  the 
cabinet,  which  contains  our  most  important  docu- 
ments,M replied  the  priest.  “ But  I must  really 
leave  you  now.  There  are  important  letters 
which  must  be  written  to-night.  Fare  you  well !” 
“ Thanks,  my  Verus  ! May  the  angel  of  the 
Lord  watch  over  me  as  faithfully  in  heaven,  as 
you  guard  me  and  care  for  me  on  earth !” 

The  priest  closed  his  eyes  for  a moment,  then 
he  nodded  his  head  and  said  with  a slight  smile  : 
“ That  is  also  my  prayer.” 

And  with  almost  noiseless  steps  he  glided  from 
the  room. 


XXL 

Hilda  gazed  after  him  long  and  thoughtfully.  * 
At  length  with  a slight  shake  of  her  head  she 
came  up  to  Gelimer  and  spoke  : “ O king,  do  not 
be  angry  if  I ask  you  a question  which  nothing 
gives  me  the  right  to  ask  except  my  anxiety  for 
your  welfare  and  the  welfare  of  your  house.” 

“And  my  love  for  you,  brave-hearted  sister-in. 
law,”  replied  the  king,  stroking  the  blond  hair 


190  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

which  fell  freely  over  her  shoulders,  and  seating 
himself  upon  the  couch.  “ For,”  he  continued  with 
a smile,  “ even  if  you  are  a wicked,  arrant  heathen 
and  often  entertain  towards  me — I know  it  well ! 
— a secret  grudge,  yes,  a positive  aversion,  never- 
theless you  are  very  dear  to  me,  you  passionate, 
impulsive  creature  !” 

She  let  herself  sink  down  at  his  fe,et  upon  a 
soft,  thick  cushion  covered  with  a leopard’s  skin, 
while  Gibamund  paced  the  hall  with  slow  steps, 
sometimes  pausing  to  glance  out  through  the 
open  window  at  the  sea  and  the  wondrous  beauty 
of  the  night.  The  lamps  in  the  room  had  not 
been  lighted,  but  the  full  moon,  which  a little 
while  before  had  emerged  from  the  dark  waters 
and  had  now  risen  above  the  walls  of  the  harbor, 
poured  a flood  of  mellow  radiance  into  the  apart- 
ment, investing  the  handsome,  noble  features  of 
its  three  occupants  with  an  almost  supernatural 
beauty. 

“ I will  not,”  she  began,  “ as  Zaro  and  my 
Gibamund  repeatedly  have  done,  until  in  your 
anger  you  forbade  it — I will  not,  you  see,  warn  you 
in  regard  to  this  priest,  who — ” 

“ First  discovered  the  plots  of  Pudentius  and 
the  treachery  of  Hilderic;  to  whom  alone  I owe  it 
that  I escaped  assassination  on,  that  eventful 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  I9I 

evening;  who  has  saved  the  kingdom  of  the  Van- 
dals, in  spite  of  all  the  intrigues  against  it.” 

Gibamund  checked  his  steps.  “ Yes,  it  is  true. 
I could  almost  say,  unfortunately  true.  For  there 
is  no  other  man  living  to"  whom  I so  dislike  to 
feel  under  obligation.” 

“ It  is  so  strikingly  true  that  even  our  Zaro, 
who  at  first  accused  him  bitterly,  could  scarcely 
grumble  out  an  objection  when  I appointed  this 
wise  and  prudent  man  one  of  my  councillors,  and 
confided  to  him,  on  account  of  his  skill  in  such 
matters,  the  charge  of  our  state-correspondence. 
And  how  unweariedly  he  devotes  himself  to  his 
work,  as  priest  and  chancellor  at  the  same  time  ! 
I am  amazed  at  the  mass  of  documents  he  lays 
before  me  every  morning.  I do  not  believe  he 
sleeps  three  hours.” 

“ Men  who  do  not  sleep  and  fight  and  drink 
and  kiss  are  mysteries  tome,”  laughed  Gibamund. 

“ I do  not  warn  you,”  said  Hilda,  “but  I ask” 
— and  she  laid  her  hand  lightly  on  the  king's 
arm — “ how  comes  it,  how  is  it  possible,  that  you, 
the  warrior-king  of  the  Vandals,  love  this  gloomy 
Roman,  this  apostate,  more  than  all  your  own 
family  and  kinsmen?” 

“ Now  here  you  are  in  error,  beautiful  Hilda,” 
said  the  king  with  a smile,  caressing  her  hand, 


192 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


“Well,  yes,”  she  corrected  herself,  “ perhaps 
you  do  love  Ammata  more.  He  is  the  one  excep- 
tion.” 

“ My  dying  father  commended  this  brother — 
then  scarcely  more  than  an  infant— to  my  charge. 
I took  him  to  my  heart  and  educated  him  as  I 
would  have  done  my  own  child.”  He  paused  a 
moment,  and  then  continued  : “ It  is  not  love 
that  binds  me  to  Verus ; what  compels  me  to 
consider  him  my  protecting  angel  upon  earth,  to 
look  up  to  him  with  heart-felt  thanks,  with  rever- 
ence, with  blindly  credulous  trust,  is  the  confidence, 
the  more  than  human  certainty  that — yes” — and 
here  he  slightly  shuddered — “ it  is  a revelation 
from  God,  a miracle.” 

“ A miracle  ?”  repeated  Hilda. 

“A  revelation ?”  inquired  Gibamund,  incredu- 
lously, stopping  beside  the  two. 

“ Both,”  the  king  replied.  “ But  in  order  to 
understand  this,  you  must  know  more,  must  learn 
how  my  mind  and  soul  were  torn  by  conflicting 
forces;  you  must  live  over  with  me  the  time  of 
my  transformation,  my  danger,  and  my  rescue. 
Yes,  and  you  shall  learn  these  things  to-night,  my 
nearest  and  dearest  ones;  for  who  knows  when 
this  threatening  war  will  give  us  another  leisure 
hour? 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


193 


“ My  father  once  told  me  that  even  in  my 
childhood  my  thoughts  seemed  scarcely  those  of 
a child;  that  I often  fell  into  a dreamy  state,  and 
sometimes  asked  strange  questions.  Then  came 
the  happy  days  of  my  boyhood.  Arms,  arms, 
formed  the  only  sport,  the  only  labor,  the  only 
study.  It  was  then  that  I attained  that  strength 
and  that  joy  in  arms — ” Here  his  eyes  flashed  in 
the  pale  moonlight. 

“Which  raised  you  to  be  the  hero  of  your 
people,”  cried  Gibamund. 

“ But  this  happy  time  came  to  an  end.  By 
chance  the  captain  of  the  hundred  who  was 
appointed  to  the  task  was  taken  suddenly  sick, 
and  I,  the  sixteen-year-old  boy,  received  the 
commission  to  attend  in  the  prison-yard  of  this 
castle  the  torture  of  the  Romans,  the  Catholics 
who  refused  to  abjure  their  faith.  The  cries  of 
anguish  which  penetrated  the  thick  walls  had 
repeatedly  driven  the  Carthaginians  to  insurrec- 
tion. Consequently  the  prison-yard  was  always 
guarded.  I had,  it  is  true,  already  heard  that 
such  things  took  place.  I was  told  that  they 
were  unavoidable,  that  the  Catholics  were  all 
traitors  to  our  kingdom,  and  that  the  torture  was 
merely  used  to  force  from  them  a confession  of 
their  criminal  plans.  But  I had  never  witnessed 


194 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


the  proceedings.  Now,  however,  I saw  them — I, 
the  sixteen-year-old  boy  ! I myself  was  the  com- 
mander of  the  executioners.  Horrible*!  Horrible! 
“There  were  about  a hundred  people,  some  of  them 
gray-haired  women,  some  of  them  children  scarce 
as  old  as  I.  I ordered  the  torture  stopped.  ‘ It 
is  the  king’s  command,’  replied  the  Arian  priests. 

“ I wished  to  assist  the  sufferers.  Ah  ! the 
entire  family  of  Verus  were  among  the  victims. 
I wished  to  tear  his  aged  mother  from  the  mar- 
tyr’s stake  to  which  she  was  bound,  to  free  her 
from  the  hissing  flames,  amid  which,  in  spite  of 
her  iron  fetters,  she  writhed  and  shrieked  in  un- 
speakable agony;  but  my  own  soldiers  held  me 
back.  i By  command  of  the  king,’  they  cried.  I 
struggled  fiercely,  I foamed  at  the  month,  I raved 
—but  in  vain.  I closed  my  eyes  to  shut  out  the 
horrible  sight.  But — ah!—” 

He  stopped  and  passed  his  hand  over  his  fore- 
head, but  after  a moment  resumed:  “Then  my 
own  name,  uttered  with  a shrill  shriek,  struck  upon 
my  ear.  Involuntarily  I opened  my  eyes  and  saw  the 
naked,  fettered  arm  of  the  old  woman  stretched 
out  straight  towards  me.  ‘ Curse  you,  Gelimer  ! ’ 
she  screamed.  ‘ Curse  you  upon  earth  and  in  hell ! 
My  curse  upon  all  the  Asdings ! My  curse  upon 
the  Vandal  people  and  their  kingdom  ! The  >viai:i 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  IQ5 

of  God  shall  smite  you  all,  from  the  child  to  the 
gray-bearded  man,  for  your  sins  and  the  sins  of 
your  fathers.  Curse  you,  Gelimer!  Curse  you, 
murderer ! * And  her  eyes,  frightfully  distorted  by 
suffering  and  hate,  seemed  actually  to  burn  into 
my  own.  Then  I broke  down  into  a spasm,  such 
as  often  since  has  seized  me.  I was  crushed  by 
the  thought  that,  even  though  I myself  were  free 
from  guilt,  the  dying  woman  in  her  despair  had 
cursed  me  and  had  carried  the  curse  before  the 
throne  of  God  ; henceforth  I must  bear  the  bur- 
den of  the  sins  of  my  whole  race.” 

He  trembled  violently,  and  the  sweat  gathered 
on  his  brow. 

“•For  God’s  sake,  brother,  stop  ! Your  torments 
may  return  again.” 

But  Gelimer  continued  : “When  I came  to  my- 
self I was  no  longer  a youth.  I had  grown  old, 
broken  in  spirit,  demented — whichever  you  please 
to  call  it.  I laid  aside  my  sword-belt,  my  helmet, 
and  my  shield,  while  through  my  brain,  deadening 
all  other  thoughts,  kept  ririgmg  that  fearful  word 
‘sin.’  Its  curse,  I felt,  must  rest  forever  upon  my- 
self, my  race,  my  people. 

“Well,  I sought  comfort.  I took  my  Bible.  I 
had  been  taught  that  the  Bible  is  God’s  oracle. 
I unrolled,  without  looking,  the  Holy  Scriptures, 


I96  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

the  sharp  dagger  in  my  hand,  and  cried  aloud  to 
God  on  high  4 O Lord,  wilt  thou  really  punish  me 
for  the  sins  of  my  forefathers? ’ Without  looking, 
I thrust  the  point  of  my  weapon  into  the  unrolled 
page.  It  fell  upon  the  lines:  4 For  I,  the  Lord 
thy  God,  am  a jealous  God,  visiting  the  iniquities 
of  the  parents  upon  the  children  even  to  the  third 
and  fourth  generation.’ 

“ Again  an  overmastering  horror  seized  me. 
But  once  more  I was  enabled  to  regain  my  self- 
control,  for  from  the  street  below  came  the  clear 
blast  of  a Vandal  cavalry-horn.  A troop  of  horse- 
men in  glittering  arms  were  riding  out  to  join  the 
campaign  against  the  Moors.  That  was,  you 
know,  my  delight,  my  pride.  I already  had  taken 
part  twice  in  a victorious  cavalry-fight.  My  hope, 
my  courage,  my  pleasure  in  life,  revived.  I 
thought : Even  if  my  own  happiness  is  forever 
dead,  lo!  the  Vandal  kingdom  needs  me,  and  a 
hero’s  duty  summons  me  joyously  to  live,  to  bat- 
tle, to  die  for  my  people.  Is  that  also  nothing? 
Is  that  also  a sin,  empty  and  vain  ?’ 

“Once  more  I consulted  God’s  word,  in  another 
place.  I closed  the  rolls,  opened  them  again,  and 
stuck  the  point  of  my  dagger  into  the  sentence: 
{ Vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity.’ 

“Then,  indeed,  I sank  into  despair.  For  people 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


I97 


and  country  and  even  that  very  heroism  which 
our  ancestors  cultivated  and  celebrated  as  at  once 
man’s  highest  duty  and  his  noblest  joy— all  these 
are  vanity,  are  sins  in  the  sight  of  God.” 

“ The  whole  thing  was  a deplorable  mischance,” 
said  Gibamund,  hotly. 

“ And  it  is  folly  to  believe  in  it,”  cried  Hilda. 
“O  Gelimer,  heroic  descendant  of  Geiseric,  does 
not  every  beat  of  your  heart  contradict  this  fatal 
delusion  ?”  She  sprang  up,  tossed  back  her  flow- 
ing hair,  and  turned  her  fiery  glance  straight  upon 
him. 

“Yes,  at  times,  fair  chief  of  the  Valkyrias,” 
Gelimer  replied  with  a smile.  “And  especially 
since — since  God  preserved  me  by  a miracle.  And 
fear  not,  descendant  of  Hildebrand  ; you  will  have 
no  cause  to  be  ashamed  of  your  brother-in-law, 
the  Vandal  king,  when  the  trumpets  of  Belisarius 
summon  us  to  battle.” 

“ Ah,  well  for  us,  my  husband,”  Hilda  exclaimed, 
“ that  the  dominant  factor  in  this  man’s  being  is, 
after  all,  the  hero  !”  And  she  joyfully  pressed 
her  husband's  hand. 

“ Who  can  say  that  he  really  comprehends  the 
depths  of  his  own  nature?”  resumed  Gelimer. 
“At  that  time,  and  for  years  afterwards,  I lost  all, 
desire  for  heroic  deeds,  for  the  glamour  and  joy- 


I98  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

ous  excitement  of  feats  of  arms.  I grew  sick  in 
body  as  well  as  in  soul.  Upon  that  second  warn- 
ing from  the  Bible  the  spasms  seized  me  again,  so 
that  my  father  was  forced  to  yield  to  my  earnest 
prayers,  for  he  saw  that  my  condition  unfitted  me 
for  military  service.  I was  permitted  to  go  to  the 
monastery  of  the  monks  of  our  faith  in  the  soli- 
tude of  the  desert.  For  many,  years  I remained 
there.  It  was  then  that  I burned  all  the  martial 
songs Vhich  I had  composed  in  our  language  for 
the  harp.” 

“ What  an  act  of  bigotry!”  lamented  Hilda. 

“ But  a few  of  them  have  been  preserved  in  the 
memory  of  our  soldiers,”  said  Gibamund,  consol- 
ingly. 

Noble  descendants 
Of  fathers  heroic, 

The  Asdings  of  old, 

Warrior  race 

Of  Geiseric’s  blood, 

Ypu  are'  the  heirs 

Of  the  might  of  the  sea-king/” 

“And  of  his  fearful  sins,”  added  Gelimer,  with 
a lowering  brow.  For  a while  he  remained  silent ; 
then  he  began  afresh  : 

“Instead  of  Vandal  songs  I now  composed 
Latin  penitential  hymns.  In  the  opinion  of  the 
monks  the  torments  of  the  damned  found  expres- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  1 99 

sion  in  my  trochees,  the  fires  of  hell  flashed  up  in 
them.  And  in  truth  the  flames  were  there  ; they 
were  the  flames  of  the  death-pyre  which  I had 
seen  devouring  living  beings.  There  was  no  sort 
of  asceticism,  no  mortification  of  the  flesh,  which 
I did  not  practise  to  excess.  I hated  myself,  my 
sinful  soul,  my  body  weighed  down  by  the  curse 
of  inherited  sin.  I fasted,  I scourged  myself,  I 
wore  the  penitential  girdle  until  its  sharp  points 
tore  deep  wounds  in  my  flesh.  I secretly  invented 
new  methods  of  self-torture  when  the  abbot  for-, 
bade  the  further  practice  of  the  old.  In  the 
mean  time  I devoured  everything  in  the  way  of 
books  which  the  monastery  and  the  libraries  of 
Carthage  possessed.  I brought  it  about  that  my 
father  permitted  me  to  journey  to  Alexandria,  to 
Athens,  to  Byzantium,  to  listen  to  the  teachers 
there.  I was  more  learned,  but  not  wiser,  when  I 
returned  from  those  famous  schools  to  my  monas- 
tery in  the  desert.  At  length  I was  summoned  to 
my  father’s  death-bed.  He  commended  to  me,  as 
a sacred  charge,  my  youngest  brother,  Ammata.  I 
dared  not  selfishly  hasten  from  my  father’s  grave 
back  to  the  monks,  as  I gladly  would  have  done. 
My  duty  towards  the  child  was  a human,  a healthy 
one  ; it  restored  me  to  the  world.  I lived  for  the 
sake  of  this  dear  brother/’ 


200 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


“ No  father  could  have  watched  over  him  with 
more  loving  care,”  asserted  Gibamund. 

“ Then  I was  told  I ought  to  marry.  The  king, 
our  whole  family,  wished  it.  She  was  of  the  royal 
line’ of  the  Visigoths,  beautiful,  noble,  and  intelli- 
gent. She  had  come  to  Carthage  on  a visit.  My 
eyes  and  my  heart  alike  found  her  attractive,  but 
I stifled  their  pleading  and  answered  ‘No.’” 

“In  order  to  live  only  for  Ammata?”  asked 
Hilda. 

“Not  solely  on  that  account.  The  thought 
came  to  me” — here  his  brow  again  darkened — 
“ that  the  curse  which  rests  upon  me  ought  not, 
as  threatened  in  that  fearful  passage  of  Scripture, 
to  be  propagated  from  generation  to  generation. 
With  terror  I should  recognize  in  my  children  the 
lineaments  of  their  blighted  father.  Therefore  I 
remained  unmarried.” 

“ What  a morbid  misconception  of  the  truth !” 
whispered  Gibamund  to  his  beautiful  wife,  as  he 
kissed  her  and  drew  her  tenderly  towards  him. 

“ It  was  at  that  time,  I believe,”  scolded  Hilda, 
“ that  you  composed  that  wicked  and  cynical 
hymn  which  rejects  all  human  love  as  sinful : 
Maledictus  amor  sexus, 

Maledicta  oscula, 

Sint  amplexus  maledicti, 

Inferi  ligamina.' 


TtLE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 20 1 

It  is  not  true  at  all,”  she  said  with  a smile,  and 
heartily  returned  her  husband’s  kiss. 

But  Gelimer  continued  : “ What  the  truth  is 
will  be  revealed  to  us — on  the  judgment  day. 
However,  my  care  for  the  boy  healed  my  own  sick- 
ness. Once  more  I applied  myself  to  arms  ; it 
was  necessary  to  do  so,  in  order  to  train  my  pupil. 
But  still  more  than  by  this  I was  helped  by  my 
duty — ” 

“ Towards  your  people  and  fatherland,”  inter- 
rupted Hilda. 

“ Yes,”  declared  Gibamund.  “At  that  time 
the  Moors  had  proved  themselves  far  more  than 
a match  for  our  effeminated  troops  and  our  un- 
warlike king.  We  were  defeated  in  every  battle 
and  no  longer  dared  to  take  the  open  field  against 
the  camel-riders.  Our  border-districts  were  rav- 
aged year  after  year,  until  at  length  the  robbers  of 
the  desert,  growing  bolder,  pushed  forward  into 
the  heart  of  our  territory  and  made  their  incursions 
up  to  the  very  gates  of  Carthage.” 

“Then  it  was  necessary  to  become  the  shield  of 
my  people.  I did  this — did  it  gladly.  The  old, 
delight  in  battle  awoke  in  me,  and  I said  to  my- 
self it  was  no  vain,  sinful  desire  for  fame  that  im- 
pelled me.” 

“ What  ? Is  heroism  to  be  deemed  a sin  ?”  cried 


202 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 


Hilda.  “ You  fought  simply  to  protect  your  peo- 
pled 

“ Yes;  but  he  took  a good  deal  of  pleasure  in 
it,”  said  Gibamund,  laughingly,  to  his  wife.  “And 
he  has  often  pursued  the  Moors  considerably 
*>  further  into  the  desert,  and  slain  with  his  own 
hand  many  more  of  them  in  the  pursuit  than  the 
mere  protection  of  Carthage  would  have  required. ” 
“ May  Heaven  pardon  all  that  I did  beyond 
what  was  necessary !”  returned  Gelimer  with  a 
troubled  look.  “ Often,  in  the  very  midst  of  the 
fight,  the  thought,  ‘ This  is  a sin,’  has  crippled  my 
arm.  And  formerly  the  old  melancholy  often 
came  over  me,  together  with  the  torments  of  pen- 
itential fear,  the  consciousness  of  guilt,  the  burden 
of  the  curse  of  the  half-burnt  woman,  and  the 
soul-crushing  words  : ‘All  is  sin,  all  is  vanity.’ 

“ Then  came  that  day  of  fiercest  agony,  agony 
scarcely  less  intense  than  that  endured  by  those 
poor  Catholics,  by  the  parents  and  family  of 
Verus.  But  it  brought  at  the  same  time  the  cul- 
mination, the  deliverance,  the  saving— by  Verus. 
Yes,  as  Jesus  Christ  is  my  Saviour  in  heaven,  so 
was  this  priest  my  deliverer,  my  saviour  on 
earth.” 

“ Do  not  blaspheme  !”  said  Gibamund,  reprov- 
ingly. “ I am,  unfortunately,  by  no  means  so 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  V A NEALS.  203 

pious  a Christian  as  you ; but  to  compare  to  the 
Saviour,  even  if  he  merely  resembles  God,  without 
being  himself  of  the  same  essence  as  God — ” 

“ I see  you  know  by  heart  your  Arian  confes- 
sion of  faith,  my  dear/’  Hilda  remarked.  “ But 
old  Hildebrand’s  opinion  was  that  he  neither  re- 
sembles nor  is  of  the  same  essence  as  the  gods  of 
our  ancestors.” 

“ No,  for  they  are,  devils,”  Gelimer  replied  in- 
dignantly, and  made  the  sign  of  the  cross. 

“Still,  I should  not  like,”  resumed  Gibamund, 
“to  compare  this  sombre-souled  Veruj  to  Christ.” 
“ I felt  towards  him  once  just  as  you  and  Zaro 
and  almost  all  others  feel  now.  He  did  not 
attract,  he  repelled  me.  He,  he  only  of  all 
his  family — whose  martyrdom  for  their  faith  he 
had  witnessed — recanted  to  the  executioners.  Was 
this  done  from  fear  of  death  or  was  it  really  con- 
viction ? I mistrusted  him.  Besides,  the  fact 
that  he  stood  so  high  in  the  favor  of  King  Hil- 
deric,  the  friend  of  Byzantium,  whose  plots  against 
my  succession  to  the  throne  I even  at  that  time 
conjectured,  displeased  me.  What  injustice  I did 
Verus  his  actions  have  since  proved.  For  he, 
and  he  alone,  saved  both  the  Vandal  kingdom 
and  myself.  Thus  he  has  clearly  fulfilled  what 
God’s  manifest  sign  announced  to  me  in  the  most 


204 


THE  LAST  OF  TEE  VANDALS . 


terrible  hour  of  my  life.  Hear  what  as  yet  only 
our  Zaro  knows  ; I told  it  to  him  as  my  answer 
to  his  warning.  You  also  shall  now  hear  it,  and 
shall  recognize  God’s  sign  and  miracle/’ 


XXII. 

“It  was  three  years  ago.  We  had  marched 
against  the  Moors,  this  time  towards  the  south- 
west, against  the  tribes  which  are  accustomed  to 
pitch  their  tents  at  the  base  of  the  Aurasian  moun- 
tains. We  had  passed  through  Numidia  and, 
pressing  forward  from  Tipasa,  had  driven  the 
enemy  from  the  lowlands  up  among  the  steep 
cliffs.  There,  amid  inaccessible  rocks,  they  sought 
a refuge.  We  encamped  in  the  plain,  and  deter- 
mined to  beleaguer  them  until  hunger  should 
force  a surrender.  Days,  weeks  passed.  I grew 
impatient  at  the  delay,  and  rode  out  from  time  to 
time  along  the  base  of  the  range,  in  search  of 
some  spot  where  the  rocks,  rising  less  abruptly, 
might  afford  a chance  for  a successful  assault. 

“ On  one  of  these  solitary  rides — I needed  no 
escort,  for  the  enemy  did  not  dare  to  descend 
into  the  plain- — I had  gone  far,  very  far  from  our 
camp.  In  passing  around  a jagged  shoulder  of 
the  mountain,  I at  length  became  confused  and 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


205 


uncertain  in  what  direction  I was  going  through 
the  vast  and  pathless  desert. 

“ However,  I had  never  examined  this  side  of 
the  mountain,  and  it  seemed  less  difficult  of  as- 
cent. I did  not  trouble  myself  about  the  way 
back,  although  my  panting  horse  left  mile  after 
mile  behind  him  ; his  hoof-prints  in  the  sand 
would  guide  my  return  to  the  camp. 

“ Soon  the  rays  of  the  sun  began  to  fall  more 
and  more  obliquely,  and  a brownish  haze  gathered 
around  its  sinking  disk.  I decided  merely  to  take 
a look  around  the  next  projecting  point  and  then 
to  retrace  my  course.  Accordingly  I rode  my  horse 
close  up  to  the  rocks,  when  suddenly  an  appalling 
sound  burst  on  my  ear — the  savage  roar  of  a full- 
grown  lion.  My  steed  gave  a wild  plunge,  and  I 
saw  the  beast,  a monster  in  size,  only  a few  paces 
from  me,  crouching  for  a spring.  With  all  my 
strength  I hurled  my  spear.  But  at  the  same  mo- 
ment my  horse,  frantic  with  terror,  reared  with 
such  violence  that  he  fell  over  and  buried  me 
under  his  weight.  A sharp  pain  in  my  thigh  was 
the  last  feeling  I was  conscious  of.  Then  my 
senses  failed  me.” 

He  paused,  shuddering  even  at  the  recollection 
pf  the  scene. 


206  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

“A  lion?”  said  Hilda  in  a faltering  voice. 
“ They  generally  avoid  the  desert.” 

“Yes,”  replied  Gibamund.  “ But  they  love  to 
prowl  among  the  mountains  on  the  verge  of  the 
desert.”  I know,”  he  continued,  “ that  you  were 
brought  back  with  a broken  leg  to  Carthage.  It 
was  many  weeks  before  you  recovered.  But  I 
did  not  know — ” 

“When  I regained  my  senses  the  sun  was  just 
setting.  The  heat  was  intense,  alike  in  the  air 
and  in  the  dry  sand  on  which  the  back  of  my 
head  rested,  for  I had  lost  my  helmet  in  the  fall. 
The  horse  was  dead  ; it  had  broken  its  neck.  Its 
heavy  weight  rested  upon  my  right  leg,  which 
pained  me  violentl}7.  I attempted  to  draw  it 
forth  fro.m  under  the  body  of  the  horse,  but  it 
was  impossible.  I could  not  move  it.  Then, 
pressing  my  right  hand  firmly  against  the  sand.  I 
endeavored  to  raise  my  head  in  order  to  get  a 
glimpse  of  my  surroundings.  I succeeded,  and 
espied,  a few  paces  beyond  the  dead  horse,  the 
lion.  He  lay  motionless  upon  his  belly,  his  head 
turned  towards  me,  and  the  shaft  of  my  spear  pro- 
truding from  his  breast,  beside  his  right  forepaw. 
He,  too,  seemed  dead,  and  my  heart  gave  an  ex- 
ultant throb.  But  no!  As  I moved,  a low  growl 
came  from  his  half-open  jaws.  He  bristled  his 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  20 7 

mane  ; he  sought  to  rise,  but  could  not.  He  dug 
his  claws  deeper  into  the  sand,  evidently  striv- 
ing'to  drag  himself  towards  me.  And  I ? I could 
not  move  an  .inch.  Then  there  came  upon  me — 
I do  not  deny  it — a wretched,  cowardly  fear.  I 
sank  back  upon  the  sand,  for  I could  not  endure 
the  fearful  glance  of  his  glaring  eyes.  I thought: 

* Alas ! what  a fate  will  be  mine  ! ’ I shouted  in 
my  despair  as  loudly  as  I could  : ‘ Help  ! Help  ! ’ 
But  I soon  repented  this.  For  my  voice  served  to 
irritate  the  wounded  beast,  and  he  answered  with 
a roar  so  fearful  that  it  fairly  took  away  my 
breath.  When  he  grew  still  again,  the  blood  was 
rushing  madly  through  my  veins.  What  a death 
threatened  me  ! No  call  for  help  could  be  heard 
by  my  people,  for  many,  many  miles  of  desert 
sand  separated  me  from  our  nearest  outposts.  Of 
the  enemy  upon  the  mountains  I had  not  seen 
a trace  during  my  entire  ride.  How  willingly 
would  I have  delivered  myself  into  their  hands  as 
a captive  ! But  to  die  here — under  this  scorching 
sun,  upon  this  fiery-hot  sand — slowly  and  from 
thirst ! — At  the  very  thought  I began  to  feel  its 
fearful  pangs.  And  I had  heard  that  the  torment 
of  this  death  might  be  protracted  for  days. 

“ I looked  up  to  the  leaden-gray,  pitiless  sky 
and  asked  in  a whisper — I feared,  I confess  it,  to 


208  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

rouse  the  lion  again: — ‘Just  God,  why?  What 
have  I been  guilty  of,  that  I must  suffer  thus?  ’ 

“ Then  the  fearful  answer  of  the  Holy  Book 
flashed  through  my  mind  : 4 For  I,  the  Lord  thy 

Godd  am  a jealous  God,  visiting  the  iniquities  of 
the  parents  upon  the  children  even  to  the  third 
and  fourth  generation/  ‘ You  are  atoning  now/  I 
groaned,  ‘ for  the  sins  of  your  ancestors.  The 
curse  of  the  martyred  is  being  fulfilled.  It  rests 
upon  you  on  earth,  it  will  rest  upon  you  in  hell. 
And,  in  fact,  is  not  this  already  hell  that  sur- 
rounds me,  that  burns  in  my  eyes,  my  throat,  my 
breast,  and  my  soul  ?’  And  hark  ! louder  than  be- 
fore, and  it  seemed  to  me  nearer,  sounded  the  growl 
of*the  lion.  Then  again  I became  unconscious. 

“ So  I lay  the  whole  night,  passing  from  the 
swoon  into  a feverish  and  unrefreshing  sleep. 
There  I lived  over  again  all  that  had  happened. 
‘ Ah/  I thought  with  a smile,  ‘ this  is,  of  course, 
only  a dream ; it  can  be  nothing  but  a dream. 
Such  things  do  not  really  happen.  You  are  lying 
in  your  tent,  your  sword  beside  you/  I awoke, 
and  reached  out  for  it.  Oh,  horrible  ! my  hand 
clutched  the  sand  of  the  desert  ! It  was  not  a 
dream. 

“ It  was  already  growing  light  again.  Hot— ah! 
fearfully  hot  were  the  rays  of  the  sun  that  fell 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  20g 

upon  my  unprotected  face.  Then  the  thought 
came  ; My  sword  ! a weapon!  Why  should  I bear 
for  hour  after  hour  such  torment,  such  death 
agony?  No!  I will  put  an  end  to  it,  and  may 
God  pardon  the  sin  ! My  soul  at  any  rate  is  lost. 
I reached  for  the  sword,  the  empty  sheath  hung 
in  my  belt,  but  the  blade  itself  was  gone.  I looked 
around  and  saw  the  trusty  weapon  lying  quite 
near  me.  Never  had  I loved  it  as  I did  at  that 
moment  ! I put  out  my  hand  to  take  it,  to  draw 
it  towards  me.  My  heart  sank.  Stretch  my  arm 
and  my  fingers  as  much  as  J was  able,  they  could 
not  reach  the  sword.  It  lay  too  far  away — only 
a few  inches,  but  still  beyond  my  grasp.  Here  a 
low  whimper  reminded  me  of  the  lion.  With  an 
effort,  for  my  strength  now  gave  out  easily,  I 
raised  myself  so  that  I could  see  him. 

“ Ah  ! Is  that  an  illusion  of  beginning  madness  ? 
The  thought  swept  through  my  brain,  like 
driving  clouds  before  a storm.  No!  it  is  true. 
The  beast  has  worked  himself  nearer,  much 
nearer  than  yesterday.  It  is  not  deception.  I can 
remember  distinctly  that  yesterday,  when  he 
stretched  forth  his  paw,  he  could  not  reach  the 
large,  black  stone  a little  beyond  the  horse,  and 
now  the  stone  lies  right  beside  his  flank.  In  the 
course  of  these  hours  he  has  dragged  himself  for- 


210 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


ward  the  whole  length  of  his  body.  He  is  now 
not  more  than  two  paces  from  me.  If  he  should 
work  forward  still  farther — if  he  should  reach  me  ! 
Without  means  of  defence  I must  lie  here,  and  let 
him  strip  the  flesh  from  my  living  body.  I prayed, 
I prayed  in  my  anguish  to  God.  ‘ No,  no,  no, 
my  God  ! You  cannot  abandon  me  here.  You 
must  save  me,  God  of  mercy.’  And  then  there  oc- 
curred to  me  the  belief  in  guardian  spirits  which 
pervades  our  whole  people,  spirits  in  human  form 
appointed  by  God  to  help  us.  You  remember?” 

“Of  course,”  replied  Gibamund.  “And  through 
fervent  prayer  God  can  even  be  compelled,  in 
moments  of  supreme  danger,  to  show  us  the  pro- 
tecting spirit,  to  send  it  to  our  rescue.” 

“My  ancestor,  too,”  observed  Hilda,  “believed 
firmly  in  this.  He  said  that  our  forefathers 
regarded  the  protecting  deities  as  women,  who, 
although  invisible,  everywhere  followed  the 
chosen  hero.  But  since  the  introduction  of  Chris- 
tianity— ” 

“ These  demoniac  women  have  departed  from 
us,”  Gelimer  interrupted,  crossing  himself,  “ and 
the  Lord  God  has  appointed  men,  who,  under  his 
direction,  are  our  helpers,  advisers,  and  saviours 
upon  earth.  ‘ Send  me,  O God,’  I cried  in  the  fervor 
of  my  agony,  ‘send  me  in  this  hour  of  my  greatest 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VAHDALS. 


21  r 


need  the  man  whom  you  have  given  me  for  my 
guardian  spirit  in  this  world.  Let  him  save  me  ! 
And  as  long  as  I live  I will  trust  him  even  as  my- 
self, I will  honor  in  him  the  might  of  thy  miracu- 
lous power/ 

“ When  I had  uttered  this  passionate  prayer,  a 
profound  sense  of  relief  came  over  me.  It  is  true 
that  weakness,  prostrating  weakness,  rendered  me 
perfectly  helpless  ; but  even  in  this  helplessness  I 
felt  a blissful  assurance  that  deliverance  was  at 
hand.  And  now  in  the  delirium  of  fever  I beheld 
alluring  visions  of  my  rescue,  while  the  fearful 
thirst  that  tormented  me  conjured  up  a glorious 
spring  of  water  gushing  from  the  rocks  near  by. 
And  soon,  too,  my  deliverer  seemed  to  come.  Not 
Zaro  or  Gibamund — I knew  well  that  they  had 
gone  against  other  Moors,  far  to  the  west  of  our 
camp.  No ! It  was  another — one  whose  features 
I could  not  distinctly  see.  He  sprang  down  from 
his  whinnying  steed,  slew  the  lion,  and  dragged 
from  my  body  the  crushing  weight  of  the  dead 
horse.  Then,  for  a time,  I can  recall  nothing 
more  but  a rushing  and  ringing  in  my  ears,  and  a 
voice  that  seemed  to  say:  ‘The  rescuer  is  here.’ 
Suddenly  the  ringing  noise  ceased,  and  I heard — 
this  time  it  was  not  delirium  ! — behind  me,  in  the 
direction  of  our  camp,  the  neigh  of  a horse.  With 


212  . THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

the  expenditure  of  my  last  remaining  strength,  I 
turned  my  head,  and  saw,  a few  paces  from  me,  a 
man  who  had  just  sprung  from  his  steed,  and  who, 
with  his  hand  clutching  the  hilt  of  his  sword, 
stood  in  an  attitude  of  bewilderment  and  doubt, 
gazing  at  me  and  the  lion.  Apparently  he  hesi- 
tated. ” 

“ He  hesitated  ?”  Hilda  exclaimed. 

“ He  stopped  to  consider?  A Vandal  soldier?” 
“ He  was  not  a Vandal.” 

“ A Moor  ? An  enemy  ?” 

It  was  Verus,  the  priest.  1 My  guardian  spirit !’ 
I cried,  4 my  preserver ! God  has  sent  you.  My 
whole  life — I place  it  in  your  hands/  Then  once 
more  I sank  into  unconsciousness. 

44  Verus  told  to  me  afterwards  that  he  ap- 
proached the  lion  carefully ; but  when  he  saw  how 
deadly  a wound  the  weapon  had  made,  he  grasped 
the  spear  and  quickly  drew  it  out ; a gush  of 
blood  followed,  and  the  beast  fell  over  dead. 
Then  he  released  me,  lifted  me  with  difficulty 
upon  his  horse,  and  led  me  slowly  back  across  the 
desert.  My  followers  had  searched  for  me  only 
upon  the  paths  along  which  they  had  previously 
seen  me  ride.  But  Verus,  who  accompanied  our 
expedition,  had  noticed  that  morning  that,  when 
beyond  the  camp,  I had  turned  my  course  towards 


213 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 

the  east.  And  when  I was  missed,  he  searched 
until  he  f*ound  me.” 

“ Alone  ?” 

“ Entirely  alone.” 

“ That  is  strange,”  said  Hilda.  “ How  easily 
he  alone  might  have  failed  in  his  search  !” 

“God  enlightened  and  guided  him.” 

“And  you  and  he  have  both  kept  silent  about 
this  ?” 

“ God’s  miracles  are  not  subjects  for  idle  gos- 
sip. With  all  my  heart  I begged  his  pardon  for 
previously  mistrusting  him.  He  generously  for- 
gave me.  4 1 felt  it/  said  he,  ‘ and  was  grieved  at 
it.  Atone  for  it  by  henceforth  trusting  me  with 
implicit  confidence.  For  I tell  you  honestly,  you 
are  right;  God  did  indeed  send  nle  to  you.  I am 
your  fate,  the  instrument  in  God’s  hands  that 
watches  over  your  life  and  guides  it  taits  destined 
end.  Although  awake,  I saw  you,  as  in  a vision, 
lying  helpless  in  the  desert,  and  a voice  within  me 
spoke  : “ Go  seek  him  ; you  shall  become  his  des- 
tiny !”  And  I could  not  rest  until  I found  you.’ 
“ I have  confided  all  this  to  you,  Hilda  and  Giba- 
mund,  that  you  may  nevermore  grieve  me  with 
your  mistrust  of  Verus.  No,  Hilda,  do  not  shake 
your  head.  No  remonstrance— -I  will  not  suffer 
it.  Your  doubts  embitter  my  life.  Did  he  not 


214 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


also  a second  time  save  me  from  death  ? 0 ye 

of  little  faith,  do  ye, demand  still  a third  sign*from 
God  ? But  I do  not  wish  to  anger  you,  and  so  I 
will  leave  you.  Besides,  it  has  grown  late.  Be- 
lieve, trust,  and — be  silent.” 

Hilda  gazed  after  him  thoughtfully,  as  he 
walked  away.  Then,  with  a shrug  of  her  shoul- 
ders, she  said,  “ It  was  mere  coincidence  and  super- 
stition. How  can  a soul  so  noble  become  a prey 
to  such  delusions  ?” 

“ It  is  precisely  such  souls  that  are  most  threat- 
ened by  such  diseases.  For  my  part,  I am  thank- 
ful for  my  very  ordinary  intelligence.” 

“And  for  your  healthy  soul,”  added  Hilda, 
starting  up  with  a sigh  of  relief,  and  clasping  her 
arms  around  her  lu>sband’s  neck. 


XXIII. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  third  day  after  the 
above  conversation,  Hilda  and  her  protegee  Eu- 
genia sat  together,  in  one  of  the  private  apart- 
ments of  the  palace,  engaged  in  confidential  talk, 
but  at  the  same  time  busily  at  work. 

The  high,  but  narrow,  arched  windows  of  the 
room  looked  out  on  the  great  quadrangular  court- 
yard, which  presented  a scene  of  stirring  and 
martial  activity. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS , 215 

In  one  part  of  the  broad  space  Vandal  recruits 
just  arrived  in  Carthage  were  being  formed  into 
'squads  of  ten  and  companies  of  a hundred  ; in 
another  part  a band  of  newly-enlisted  soldiers 
were  shooting  arrows  and  hurling  spears  at  wood- 
en targets,  roughly  fashioned  to  resemble  Byzan- 
tine warriors  in  full  armor;  a tolerably  long  en- 
closure, fenced  off  from  the  rest  of  the  palace-yard, 
served  for  the  inspection  of  the  horses  and  camels 
which  Moorish  merchants  offered  for  sale.  The 
king,  Gibamund,  and  the  Gundings  were  giving 
their  attention  to  the  various  groups  as  necessity 
seemed  to  require. 

Hilda  sat  upon  a raised  cushion,  from  which, 
whenever  she  glanced  up  from  her  work,  she  was 
able  without  trouble  to  overlook  the  entire  court- 
yard. And  often,  in  truth,  she  let  the  needle  rest 
with  which  she  was  working  upon  a large  piece 
of  scarlet  cloth,  that  lay  spread  out  between  the 
two  women,  covering  the  knees  of  both.  Then 
she  gave  a bright,  smiling  glance  down  at  the 
manly  form  of  her  husband  ; and  if  he  caught  the 
look  and  nodded  in  return,  a soft  glow  of  happi- 
ness suffused  the  cheeks  of  the  young  wife. 

Hilda  noticed  that  from  time  to  time  Eugenia 
also  raised  her  slender  neck  and  sought  to  look 
down  into  the  court.  But  she  sat  too  close 


21 6 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

under  the  sill  of  the  window  to  succeed  in  the 
attempt;  and  when,  after  many  trials,  she  detected 
Hilda  observing  her,  she  blushed  deeply  with 
shame  and  confusion. 

“ You  are  now  through  with  the  lower  edge,” 
said  Hilda,  kindly.  “ Put  the  cushion  yonder  on 
the  stool.  You  must  sit  up  higher  now — on 
account  of  the  work.” 

Eagerly  Eugenia  obeyed,  and  her  eyes  swept 
hurriedly  in  a stolen  glance  over  the  yard  below. 
Then  the  long  lashes  sank  in  disappointment,  and 
quicker  than  before  she  plied  the  needle  and  the 
golden  thread  through  the  scarlet  cloth. 

“ Soon,”  remarked  Hilda,  “new  companies  will 
take  their  turn.  Then  other  leaders  will  probably 
come  into  the  court-yard.” 

Eugenia  said  nothing,  but  the  look  of  sadness 
faded  from  her  countenance. 

“You  have  been  so  industrious,”  continued 
Hilda,  “that  we  have  almost  finished.  Before 
the  sun  sets,  Geiseric’s  old  war-banner  will  float 
once  more  over  the  roof  of  the  palace.  The  gold- 
en dragon  looks  quite  fierce  in  his  new  embroi- 
dery.” 

“ Only  one  wing  is  a little  unravelled,  and  his 
claws — ” 

“ No  wonder  they  have  become  somewhat 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  21 7 

blunt,”  laughed  Hilda,  “during  the  long  years  of 
peace,  while  the  banner  lay  idle  in  the  armory.” 

“ There  was  plenty  of  fighting  against  the 
Moors.” 

“ Yes  ; but  for  the  sake  of  these  petty  combats 
Geiseric’s  old  victorious  banner  was  not  roused 
from  its  proud  dreams.  Our  squadrons  carried 
with  them  only  small  cavalry  flags,  and  the  vener- 
able war-emblem  was  not  displayed  from  the  pal- 
ace. But  now  that  we  are  threatened  by  the  By- 
zantine Empire,  Gelimer,  following  the  old  custom, 
has  commanded  the  great  banner  to  be  raised 
above  the  roof.  Gibamund  brought  it  to  me  that 
I might  restore  the  torn  and  faded  embroidery.” 

“ We  would  have  been  through  with  it  before 
now;  had  you  not  woven  in,  half  concealed  along 
the  edge,  those  queer  little  signs — ” 

“ Hush!”  whispered  Hilda  with  a smile.  “He 
must  know  nothing  of  this.” 

“Who?” 

“ The  pious  king.  Ah,  we  can  never  understand 
each  other  and  never  get  along  together!” 

“ Why  must  he  know  nothing  about  them  ?” 

“ They  are  ancient  runes,  battle-runes  of  our 
people.  My  grandfather  Hildebrand  taught  them 
to  me.  And  who  knows  whether  they  do  not 


2 18 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


So  saying,  she  smoothed  the  work  out  with  her 
hand,  which  lingered  almost  caressingly  upon  the 
characters,  while  she  softly  sung  : 

‘‘  * Runes  of  our  race 

By  our  forefathers  reverenced, 

Securing  success 
By  your  magical  might, 

Wave  in  the  wind 
On  the  banner 
We  bear  to  the  battle ! 

Summon  the  sisters, 

The  might-giving  maidens, 

Valkyrs  of  victory, 

Circling  like  swans 
At  the  head  of  our  host. 

Send  us  success 
And  fetter  our  foes. 

Blunt  be  their  sword-blades. 

Split  their  stout  spears, 

Shattered  their  shields, 

And  broken  their  breastplates ! 

But  unto  ours 
Send  the  sure  victory. 

That  on  swift  steeds 
They  may  follow  the  flight 
Of  the  fugitive  foe.’ 

“ There!  The  old  charm  has  often  helped  the 
Amelungs,  why  should  it  fail  the  Asdings  ? So  ! 
Now  the  dragon  can  fly  again.  He  has  been 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 2IQ 

moulting,”  she  laughed  merrily,  “ and  now  his 
wings  have  grown  anew.” 

She  sprang  up,  raised  the  long,  heavy,  and 
sharply-pointed  pole,  to  which  the  scarlet  cloth 
was  fastened  with  gold-headed  nails,  and  with 
both  hands  swung  the  banner  above  her  head. 
Gibamund  and  some  of  the  soldiers  below  caught 
sight  of  the  waving  banner  and  the  beautiful 
head  encircled  by  its  golden  hair.  “ Hail,  Hilda, 
hail!  ” was  their  enthusiastic  shout. 

Startled  at  the  suddenness  of  this  outburst, 
Hilda  sank  at  once  to  her  knees  to  withdraw  her- 
self from  notice.  But  she  had  heard  his  voice  ; 
therefore  she  smiled,  happy  even  amid  her  em- 
barrassment. Indeed  her  confusion  only  rendered 
her  more  charming.  - 

Eugenia  seemed  to  feel  this.  Impulsively  she 
slipped  down  beside  the  princess,  and  covered  her 
hands  and  beautiful  arms  with  affectionate  kisses. 

“ O Lady,  how  glorious  you  are  ! When  your 
eye  flashes  so  majestically — when  you,  compara- 
ble only  to  Pallas  Athene,  speak  with  such  inspi- 
ration about  battles  and  heroism — then  a feeling  of 
awe,  or  at  least  reverence,  creeps  over  me,  and 
holds  me  from  you.  But  at  other  times,  when,  as 
so  often  in  these  recent  days,  I behold  your  sweet 
womanly  content,  your  devoted  tenderness,  and 


220 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

how  you,  a loved  and  happy  wife,  love  with  your 
whole  heart  your  husband  and  live  for  him  alone, 
then,  oh,  then — do  not  scold  me.  for,  my  pre- 
sumption ! — I feel  myself  akin  to  you,  as  one 
related,  as — ” 

“ As  a sister,  my  Eugenia, ” responded  Hilda, 
pressing  the  delicate  and  graceful  girl  to  her 
bosom.  “ Believe  me,  they  do  not  exclude  each 
other — valiant,  death-despising  heroism,  and  wom- 
an’s tenderest,  truest  love.  I have  often  argued 
this  subject  with  the  most  beautiful  woman  in 
the  world.” 

“ And  pray  who  is  that?”  inquired  Eugenia, 
not  without  doubt  whether  any  one  could  possi- 
bly be  more  beautiful  than  Hilda. 

“ Mataswintha,  the  granddaughter  of  the  great 
Theodoric.  She  would  have  become  my  friend, 
but  she  wished  to  hear  only  of  love,  nothing 
about  heroism  or  duty  towards  people  and  father 
land.  She  believes  that  love  is  the  only  right  and 
the  only  duty.  That  separated  us  sharply  and 
decidedly.  But  how  touchingly  both  may  blend 
together  is  related  in  an  old  and  beautiful  legend. 
My  noble  friend  Teia  sang  it  to  my  grandfather 
and  me,  to  the  accompaniment  of  the  harp,  as 
only  Teia  can  sing.  I will  translate  it  for  you 
into  your  language.  Come,  let  us  repair  the  golden 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


221 


border  here  at  the  corner,  while  I tell  you  the 

story.” 

Both  seated  themselves  again  beside  the  open 
window,  and  while  the  work  went  on  Hilda 
began  : 

“ It  was  far,  far  back  in  the  olden  time,  in . the 
distant  land  of  Thule,  in  Scandinavia.  There  a 
noble  hero,  was  born,  of  Volsung  blood:  he  was 
called  Helgi,  and  had  no  equal.  One  day, 
after  a great  victory  over  the  Hundings,  the  an- 
cient enemies  of  his  house,  he  was  resting  upon  a 
rock  in  the  fir  forest,  when  a sudden  brightness 
illumined  the  heavens,  and  out  of  the  brightness 
shot  flashes  of  lightning,  like  fiery  spears,  and 
out  of  the  clouds  came  riding  the  Valkyrias, 
those  heroic  maidens  who,  according  to  the 
beautiful  belief  of  our  ancestors,  decide  the  battle 
and  bear  aloft  the  fallen  to  the  shield-adorned 
halls  of  Valhalla.  In  helmet  and  coat-of-mail  they 
came  riding  down,  and  the  points  of  their  spears 
were  tipped  with  flame.  And  one  of  them,  Sig- 
run,  approached  the  solitary  man  upon  the  rock, 
took  his  hand,  greeted  him,  and  kissed  him  be- 
neath the  helmet. 

“ From  that  time  they  loved  each  other  devot- 
edly. But  Sigrun  had  been  betrothed  by  her 
father  to  another,  and  Helgi  had  to  fight  for  his 


222 


.THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS, 


loved  one  in  desperate  battle.  And  there  he  slew 
not  only  her  betrothed,  but  also  her  father  and  all 
her  brothers  except  one.  Sigrun  herself,  hovering 
in  the  clouds,  had  given  him  the  victory.  Then 
she  became  his  wife,  although  he  had  killed  her 
father  and  brothers. 

“ But  soon  afterwards  Helgi  himself,  her  dearly, 
loved  hero,  was  murdered  by  the  remaining 
brother,  whom  he  had  spared.  Her  brother,  it  is 
true,  offered  expiation  to  the  widow,  but  she 
cursed  him,  and  said  : 4 May  the  ship  that  carries 
you  never  speed,  although  a fair  wind  fills  its 
sails ! May  the  horse  that  bears  you  lose  its 
swiftness  when  you  flee  from  your  enemies!  May 
the  sword  you  brandish  prove  harmless  to  all  ex- 
cept yourself  ! You  shall  live  as  friendless  as  the 
wolf  in  the  forest.'  And  she  rejected  all  consola- 
tion, tore  out  her  hair,  and  exclaimed  : ‘Woe  to 
the  widow  who  can  accept  consolation  ! She 
never  knew  what  it  is  to  love — for  love  is  eternal. 
Woe  to  the  wife  who  has  lost  her  husband  ! Her 
heart  is  desolate.  Why  should  she  continue  to 
live  ? ’ ” 

Here  Eugenia  repeated  softly  to  herself  : “ Woe 
to  the  widow  who  can  accept  consolation  ! She 
never  knew  what  it  is  to  love — for  love  is  eternal. 
Woe  to  the  wife  who  has  lost  her  husband  ! Her 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA NDALS. 


223 


heart  is  desolate.  Why  should  she  continue  to 
live?” 

“ { As  the  ash-tree  above  thorns  and  thistles,  so 
towers  Helgi  above  all  heroes.  For  the  widow 
there  is  only  one  place  left  on  earth — her  hus- 
band’s grave.  And  Sigrun  will  never  again  find 
joy  in  the  world,  unless  his  burial-mound  should 
open  to  the  light,  and  I could  again  embrace  him  ? ’ 

“ And  so  powerful,  so  all-compelling  is  the  long- 
ing of  the  faithful-hearted  widow,  that  it  breaks 
even  the  bands  of  death.  In  the  evening  a maid- 
servant came  running  to  Sigrun,  and  spoke : 

* Hasten  out,  if  you  desire  to  have  your  husband 
again.  Lo!  the  mound  has  opened,  and  a light 
flashes  from  it.  Your  longing  has  brought  back 
the  hero.  He  sits  within  the  mound,  and  calls 
for  you  to  stanch  his  bleeding  wounds.’  ” 

In  a low,  quivering  voice  Eugenia  murmured  : 
“ The  longing  of  the  faithful-hearted  widow  is  so 
powerfulit  breaks  even  the  bands  of  death.” 

“ Sigrun  went  to  the  burial-mound  to  Helgi, 
dried  his  wounds,  kissed  him,  and  said  : ‘ Your  hair 
is  dripping  wet ; you  are  covered  with  blood  ; your 
hands  are  cold  and  damp.  How  shall  I find  a 
remedy  for  these  things  ?’  4 It  is  your  fault/  he. 

said;  ‘ you  have  wept  so  many  tears,  and  every  one 
tell  in  blood  upon  Helgi’s  breast.’  Then  she  cried  : 


224  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS* 

i I will  weep  no  more ; I will  rest  upon  your 
breast,  as  I did  when  you  were  alive.'  Whereupon 
Helgi  said  exultingly:  ‘Now  you  will  remain  in 
the  grave  with  me,  in  the  arms  of  the  dead,  al- 
though yourself  alive ! ' 

“ But  the  saga  tells  that  when  Sigrun  also  died, 
both  were  born  again — he  as  a victorious  hero, 
she  as  a Valkyr.  Such  is  the  story  how  woman’s 
devoted  love  prevails  over  death,  and,  by  its  all- 
powerful  longing,  penetrates  even  the  loved  one’s 
grave." 

“ And  by  its  all-powerful  longing  penetrates 
even  the  loved  one's  grave,"  repeated  Eugenia. 

Hilda  looked  up  suddenly.  “ Child,  what  is  the 
matter  with  you  ?"  She  had  been  telling  her  story 
with  so  much  enthusiasm  that  towards  the  end 
she  had  paid  no  attention  to  her  listener.  But 
now  she  heard  a low  sobbing,  and  saw  with  amaze- 
ment the  young  Greek  kneeling  on  the  floor,  her 
face  buried  in  her  hands,  in  a vain  attempt  to  con- 
ceal her  tears. 

“ Eugenia !" 

“ O Hilda,  it  is  so  beautiful.  It  must  be  so 
blissful  to  be  loved  ! And  it  is  blissful,  too,  to 
love  even  unto  death.  O Gibamund’s  happy 
Hilda!  O Helgi’s  happy  Sigrun!  How  much 
sorrow  and  pleasure  combined  the  heart  can  find 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  22$ 

in  this  story!  United  in  death,  if  no  longer  in 
life,  by  the  magical  power  of  love  !” 

“ O sister ! Does  this  tender  heart  throb  so 
powerfully,  so  passionately,  so  truly,  with  love  ? 
Confide  in  me.  You  have  not  yet  said  one 
word — ” 

“ I could  not.  I felt  so  much  shame  both  on 
my  own  account  and — for  him.  And  I dared  not 
speak  of  my  love.  For  it  is,  you  know,  a humili- 
ation and  disgrace.  For  he,  my  bridegroom — my 
husband — does  not  love  me.” 

“ Of  course  he  loves  you.  If  not,  why  would 
he,  whose  disposition  is  so  unruly,  have  wooed 
you  so  humbly  ?” 

“ Ah  ! I do  not  know.  I have  asked  myself  the 
question  a hundred  times.  Until  within  the  last 
three  days'  I supposed  it  was  from  love.  And 
sometimes  still  my  foolish  heart  half  believes 
it.  But  no ! It  was  not  love.  A whim ! a 
pastime!  Perhaps  ” — and  she  trembled  with  an- 
ger— “ a wager  ! A game  he  sought  to  win,  that 
with  the  winning  lost  its  zest.” 

“ Not  so.  Thasaric  is  not  capable  of  that.” 

“ Oh  yes  ! Oh  yes  !”  sobbed  Eugenia  in  de- 
spair. “ He  is  capable  of  it.” 

“ I do  not  believe  it,”  replied  Hilda,  and,  sink- 


226  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA JVDALS. 

ing  down  beside  her  friend,  she  took  the  heart- 
broken girl,  as  if  she  were  a sick  childj  upon  her 
lap,  dried  her  tear-stained  cheeks  with  the  edge  of 
her  white  mantle,  smoothed  her  rumpled  hair, 
pressed  her  little  head  comfortingly  to  her  bosom, 
and  gently  rocked  her  back  and  forth,  while  she 
said  in  a soothing  tone  : “ It  will  all  xome  right, 
Eugenia.  It  will  soon  come  right.  For  he  loves 
you — he  surely  loves  you/’ 

“ A half-choked  sob  and  a slight  shake  of  the 
head  seemed  to  answer,  “ No.” 

“ He  surely  does.  I do  not  know — nor  do  I 
wish  to  know — what  that  woman  hissed  in  your 
ear.  But  I saw  how  it  affected  you— like  a pen- 
sioned arrow.  Whatever  it  was — ” 

I will  never,  never,  never  tell !”  cried  out 
Eugenia. 

“ I told  you  I do  not  wish  to  know.  Whatever 
his  fault  may  have  been,  the  Christians  have  a 
beautiful  saying  : ‘ Love  beareth  all  things  ; love 
endureth  all  things/  ” 

“ Love  pardons  all  things  ?”  whispered  Eugenia. 
“ Of  course  ; but  only  love.  Tell  me,  my  sister, 
do  you  really  love  him  ?” 

The  weeping  girl  tore  herself  loose,  sprang  up, 
stretched  forth  her  arms,  and  with  a cry  : “ Oh, 
beyond  the  power  of  words  to  tell !”  threw  herself 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  22 7 

again  on  the  breast  of  her  friend.  And  now  a 
soft,  beautiful  light  shone  through  the  tears  which 
dimmed  her  eyes.  “ See,”  she  said  in  a low 
whisper,  as  if  unseen  ears  might  be  listening  in  the 
room,  “ that  is  my  own  sweet  secret — the  secret 
that  ought  to  fill  me  with  shame,”  she  added  with 
a smile.  “ I loved  him  long  ago.  I believe  even 
as  a child,  when  he  used  to  come  to  my  father  to 
sell  the  grain  from  his  villas,  on  which  occasions 
he  often  took  me  up  in  his  arms,  as  if  I were  a 
feather,  until  I,  at  last,  refused  to  permit  it.  The 
older  I grew,  the  more  I loved  him,  and  the  more 
shyly  I avoided  him.  Ah  ! — never  mention  it,  as 
long  as  you  live  ! — when  he  seized  me  upon  the 
public  street,  fierce  as  was  my  indignation,  my  in- 
sulted self-respect,  deeply  as  I sympathized  with 
my  poor  father’s  grief  ; yet — yet — while  I strug- 
gled desperately  in  his  arms,  while  I screamed  for 
help — yet,  in  the  midst  of  all  my  fright  and  anger, 
here  in  my  heart  was  a sweet,  blissful  feeling  : ‘ He 
loves  me  ; it  is  out  of  love  that  he  uses  this  vio- 
lence towards  me.’  And  I was  happy,  in  fact 
proud,  even  in  the  midst  of  my  wild  grief,  that  he 
dared  commit  so  bold  an  outrage  purely  out  of 
love  for  me.  Can  you  understand  that,  can  you 
pardon  it  ?” 

“Pardon  it?  No!  For  lam  both  astonished 


228  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

and  delighted.  It  is  you  who  must  pardon  me, 
dear  Eugenia.  1 did  not  consider  you  capable  of 
such  genuine,  passionate,  womanly  love.  But,  you 
persistent  little  hypocrite,  why  did  you  so  long 
and  so  obstinately  conceal  your  true  feelings  from 
him  and  your  father  and  your  friend  ?” 

“ Why?  Surely  that  is  obvious  enough,”  cried 
Eugenia,  almost  involuntarily.  “ From  a feeling 
of  disgrace  and  shame.  It  is  surely  a terrible 
thing  when  a young  girl  whom  a man  has 
publicly  tried  to  carry  off — and  even  kissed  in  the 
attempt — instead  of  hating  him  forever,  as  she 
ought  to  do,  really  loves  him  with  her  whole 
heart.  It  is,  you  see,  simply  abominable.” 

And  half  weeping,  half  laughing,  she  hid  once 
more  her  blushing  face  on  Hilda’s  bosom.  As  she 
did  so,  she  kissed  tenderly  a small  gold  cross  that 
hung  suspended  from  a silver  chain,  arid  passion- 
ately pressed  to  her  heart  a rune-chased  half-cir- 
clet of  bronze  which  she  wore  upon  her  arm. 
“ His  engagement  and  his  marriage  gifts,”  she 
sighed. 

'‘Yes,  you  love  him  devotedly,”  said  Hilda. 
“And  he?  He  used  to  send  Gibamund  to  me 
with  many  a sorrowful  message.  He  was  as  thank- 
ful as  a blind  man  whose  sight  has  been  restored, 
when  I gave  him  the  simple  advice  that,  although 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 


229 


he  was,  doubtless,  utterly  unworthy  of  you,  still, 
if  he  wished  to  have  you,  he  should  frankly  ask 
whether  you  were  willing  to  accept  him  ; and  then 
he  should  propose  in  due  form  to  your  father  for 
your  hand.  Over  this  by  no  means  occult  wisdom 
he  was  as  happy  as  a child.  He  acted  accordingly, 
and  now — ” 

“And  now/' interrupted  Eugenia,  with  a flash 
of  anger  that  was'  almost  comical,  “ he  has  not 
shown  himself  for  almost  three  days.  Who  knows 
how  far  off  he  is  ?” 

“Not  very  far,”  laughed  Hilda;  “he  has  just 
entered  the  court-yard.” 

With  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow  Eugenia's  little 
head  shot  up  above  the  window-sill.  A half-stifled 
exclamation  of  joy  burst  from  her  lips  ; then  she 
slipped  down  again  out  of  the  sight  of  those 
below. 

“ How  grand  he  looks  in  full  armor !”  exclaimed 
Hilda  in  a voice  of  joyful  surprise.  “ He  wears 
above  his  helmet  a huge  bear’s  head  with  gaping 

jaws.” 

“ Indeed  ? That  is  the  bear  he  killed  himself  in 
the  Auras  mountains,”  whispered  Eugenia. 

“And  how  becomingly  the  bear’s  hide  falls  over 
his  mighty  shoulders!  He  carries  a spear,  the 
shaft  of  which  is  as  thick  as  a young  tree,  A*** d 


230  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, . 

bn  his  shield— what  sign  is  that?  A hammer  of 
stone/' 

“Yes,  yes!"  exclaimed  the  Greek  girl,  eagerly, 
as  she  raised  herself  up  and  peeped  over  the  win- 
dow-sill ; “ that  is  the  badge  of  his  house.  His 
race  is  descended,  according  to  the  old  belief,  from 
a red-bearded,  hammer-hurling  demon — I do  not 
remember  the  name." 

A demon  ?”  protested  Hilda.  “Why,  the  god 
Donar  is  his  ancestor,  and  his  descendant  of  to- 
day does  the  god  honor.  Thrasaric  is  speaking 
with  Gibamund,"  she  continued.  “They  are  look- 
ing up  here — he  salutes  me.  But  oh!  how  pale, 
how  sad  as  death  the  poor  giant  appears !" 

“Is  that  so?"  and  the  little  brown  head  rose 
once  more  above  the  sill. 

“ Down,  Eugenia,  down  ! He  must  not  know 
that  in  the  matter  of  longing  we  cannot  hold  out 
as  well  as  he.  My  husband  is  motioning  to  me — 
% he  is  coming  up  here.  Thrasaric  seems  to  be  fol- 
lowing." 

Without  stopping  to  reply,  Eugenia  darted  into 
the  adjoining  apartment. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


231 


XXIV. 

Hilda  flew  to  the  door  to  meet  her  husband, 
who  greeted  her  with  an  affectionate  embrace. 

“You  are  alone ?”  asked  Gibamund,  looking 
around.  “ I thought  I saw  the  little  antelope 
beside  you  at  the  window/’ 

Hilda  pointed  in  silence  to  the  curtain  of  the 
adjoining  room.  Her  husband  nodded.  “You 
will  soon  have  a visitor/’  he  said,  raising  his  voice. 
“ Thrasaric  desires  an  interview.  He  has  various 
matters  of  importance  to  s3y  to  you.” 

“ He  is  welcome.” 

“ You  have  finished  the  banner?” 

“Yes.”  She  grasped  the  pole,  and  with  her 
strong  arm  raised  aloft  the  heavy  banner.  The 
scarlet  cloth,  more  than  five  feet  long  and  two 
and  a half  in  width,  fell  down  in  long  folds  upon 
the  shoulders  of  both,  as  if  consecrating  them  to 
its  service. 

Gibamund  took  the  banner  from  her  hand.  “ I 
will  plant  this  standard  upon  our  highest  battle- 
ment, that  it  may  wave  from  afar  a bloody  wel- 
come to  our  enemies.  O precious  treasure,  em- 
blem of  the  Vandals’  fame,  Geiseric’s  victorious 
banner,  never  shall  you  fall  into  an  enemy’s  hands 
as  long  as  I live !”  he  cried  enthusiastically.  “ I 


232  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

swear  it  by  the  head  of  my  loved  wife,  upon  which 
your  fold.'  n vv  rest.” 

“ Never  will  your  eye  or  mine  see  that.  I swear 
it  like  yourself !”  spoke  Hilda,  solemnly.;  and  a 
slight  shudder  ran  through  her  as  a puff  of  wind 
blew  the  red  cloth  around  her  shoulders  and 
against  her  bosom. 

Gibamund  kissed  her  fair  forehead,  and  left  the 
room  with  the  banner.  On  the  threshold  he  met 
Thrasaric. 

‘‘Welcome,  Thrasaric!”  Hilda  said  in  a loud 
voice,  upon  which  the  curtain  over  the  door  of  the 
neighboring  room  -moved  slightly.  “ I like  this.  In 
full  armor  ! It  becomes  you  better  than — the 
other.  I hear  you  have  received  the  command  over 
many  thousands  ; that  you  are  to  take  Zaro’s  place 
until  he  returns.  What  do  you  bring  me?” 

This  friendly,  unconstrained  address  evidently 
reassured  the  giant,  who  had  entered  the  room 
with  a burning  face.  He  cast  a searching  glance 
around,  in  order  to  detect  some  trace ; but  he  did 
not  find  what  he  sought. 

His  whole  soul  was  on  fire  to  speak  as  quickly 
as  possible  about  Eugenia,  to  ask  after  her,  to 
learn  her  disposition  towards  him.  But  a terrible 
uncertainty  restrained  him. 

He  did  not  know  whether  his  bride  had  impart- 


The  Last  Of  the  Vandals.  233 

ed  to  her  friend  his  heavy,  his  inexcusable  guilt. 
He  feared  so.  It  was  certainly  most  probable  the 
princess  would  ask,  and  why  should  Eugenia  keep 
silent?  Why  should  she  spare  him?  Had  he 
deserved  it  ? Had  not  the  offended  one  with 
good  right  renounced  him  forever  ? All  these 
questions,  which  he  kept  propounding  to  himself 
the  whole  time,  thronged  at  once  through  his 
poor  brain.  How.  deeply  he  was  ashamed  of  his 
conduct ! Sooner  by  far  would  he  have  set  out 
alone  against  the  whole  army  of  Belisarius  than 
face  the  reproaches  of  this  noble-souled  woman. 
And  yet  he  had  so  valiantly  imposed  upon  him- 
self a task  still  more  difficult.  As  he  did  not  an- 
swer, but  only  breathed  hard,  Hilda  repeated  her 
question  : “ What  do  you  bring  me,  Thrasaric  ?” 
He  must  answer — he  perceived  that — but  Hilda 
was  almost  startled  as  he  blurted  out  in  reply, 
“ A horse.” 

“A  horse  ?”  she  asked  slowly,  her  voice  dwelling 
on  the  word.  “ What  am  I to  do  with  it  ?” 
Thrasaric  was  glad  to  be  able  to  speak,  espe 
dally  about  matters  so  remote  from  Eugenia 
Therefore  he  answered  promptly,  “ Ride  it.” 

“ Well,”  laughed  Hilda,  “ I suppose  I can  do 
that.  But  to  whom  does  the  horse  belong?” 

“ To  you.  I present  it  to  you.  Gibamund  has 


234  TLtE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

given  his  .consent.  He  commands  you  to  receive 
it  from  me.  Do  you  understand?  He  com- 
mands it.” 

“ Well,  I have  not  yet  refused.  In  fact,  I thank 
you  heartily  for  the  gift.  What  sort  of  horse  is 
it  ?” 

“ The  best  in  the  world,”  was  the  instant  an- 
swer. 

“ That  is  Cabaon’s  black  horse,  I have  heard 
Gibamund  and  my  brother-in-law  say.” 

“ It  is  true.” 

“ He  belongs  now  to  Modigisel.” 

“ No  longer.” 

“ Why?” 

“ Oh  ! for  several  reasons.  The  first,  because 
he  belongs  at  present  to  you.  The  third,  because 
the  beast  was  recently  stolen  away  by  night 
from  Modigisel.  Secondly,  Modigisel  is  dead. 
Fourthly,  the  black  stallion  is  mine.” 

These  statements  had  come  so  fast,  one  on  top 
of  the  other,  that  Hilda  gazed  at  the  speaker  with- 
out fully  understanding  him.  “ Modigisel  dead  ?” 
she  repeated.  “ Impossible!” 

“ But,  nevertheless,  a fact.  And,  in  truth, — 
except  for  himself, — no  very  great  misfortune  ! 
But  to  explain  : ^Recently,  by  night,  I helped  a 
young  captive  Moor  to  escape.  That  he  would 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 235 

avail  himself  of  the  black  stallion,  I could  not 
know  beforehand.  Nevertheless  I was  delighted 
— greatly  delighted — that  he  did  so.  Early  this 
morning  another  Moor  brought  the  horse  into 
my  courtyard.  The  Moor  who  had  escaped  was 
Sersaon,  the  great-grandson  of  Cabaon.  Out  of 
gratitude  Cabaon  sent  me  the  superb  steed.” 

“ But  would  you  not  have  been  compelled  to 
return  him  to  Modigisel  ?” 

“ Perhaps.  In  no  event  would  I have  kept  the 
horse.  Sooner  would  I have  the  devil  in  my 
stable  than  ride  upon  this  accursed  beast ! ” 

“ Why?” 

“ Why  ? Why  ? You  ask  me,  why  ?”  shouted 
Thrasaric  jubilantly.  “ You  do  not,  then,  know  ?” 
“ If  I knew,  I should  not  ask  you,”  replied 
Hilda  quietly. 

The  effect  of  these  words  fairly  astounded  her. 
Thrasaric’s  huge  form  sank  down  on  its  knees 
before  her,  and  he  pressed  her  hands  so  vehe- 
mently that  she  could  have  cried  out  with  pain. 

“ That  is  magnificent ! That  is  divine  !”  he  ex- 
claimed. But  in  an  instant  he  sprang  again  to 
his  feet,  and  his  countenance  once  more  clouded 
over.  “ Ah  !”  he  said,  “ this  makes  it  even  worse 
than  before.  Now  I must  tell  you  myself.  Par- 
don me ! No,  I have  not  become  insane,  Wait 


236  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

just  a moment  or  two.  I’ll  get  it  out  after  a while ! 

I commanded  that  the  horse  should  be  taken  at 
once  to  Modigisel.  When  my  slave  came  back  he 
brought  word  that  Modigisel  is  dead.” 

“ It  is  a fact,  then?  Yesterday  he  was  in  full 
health.  How  is  it  possible  ?” 

“ You  see,  Astarte, — but  you  know  nothing  of 
such  creatures! — his  freed  slave  and  companion, 
lived  in  a house  adjoining  his.  His  slaves  relate 
that  Modigisel  and  Astarte,  after  their  return  from 
the  Grove  of  Ve — the  Holy  Virgin,” — he  cor- 
rected himself  with  downcast  eyes — “ had  a fierce 
quarrel.  She  did  not  scream  out,  she  was  not 
violent ; but  she  demanded  for  the  thousandth 
time  her  full  liberty,  -for  in  certain  respects  Modi- 
gisel still  reserved  control  over  her.  He  refused, 
he  scolded,  he  raged,  he  is  said  to  have  struck  her. 
But  yesterday  they  had  apparently  become  recom 
ciled,  for  Astarte  and  the  Gundings  dined  with 
him.  After  the  meal  they  all  strolled  out  through 
the  garden.  ' Astarte  broke  off,  before  them  all, 
four  peaches  from  a tree.  She  and  the  Gundings 
each  ate  one,  and  Modigisel  the  fourth.  As  soon 
as  he  had  eaten  it  he  fell  dead  at  Astarte’s  feet.” 
“Horrible!  Was  it  poison  ?” 

“ Who  can  say  ? The  peach  grew  on  the  same 
tree  as  the  others.  The  Gundings  attest  the  fact, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


237 


and  their  word  is  not  to  be  doubted.  And  the 
Carthaginian  is  as  calm  and  impenetrable  as  ever.” 

“ You — you  saw  her,  you  spoke  with  her?” 
Thrasaric  reddened  : “ She  came  to  my  house 
— at  once — away  from  the  corpse.  But  I — well, 
she  went  away  again  very  quick.  She  was  in  haste 
to  take  possession  qf  the  villa  at  Decimum,  which 
Modigisel  some  time  ago  made  over  to  her.” 

“ What  a woman  !” 

“ No  woman  at  all;  a monster — but  a very 
beautiful  one  ! So  the  black  stallion  remained  on 
my  hands.  But  I — I will  not  keep  the  horse. 
And  then  it  occurred  to  me  that  you  are  the  most 
magnificent  of  all  the  women  of  our  people — I 
mean  to  say,  the  best  rider.  And  I thought  that,  # 
now  that  war  is  about  to  break  out,  and  that  you 
cannot  be  kept  from  following  Gibamund  to  the** 
battlefield,  if  I judge  you  aright — ” 

“You  do,  indeed,  judge  me  aright,”  laughed 
Hilda  with  flashing  eyes. 

“ Therefore  I besought  Gibamund- — and  so  the 
horse  is  yours.  Do  you  see?  He  is  even  now 
being  led  into  the  palace-yard.” 

“ A superb  animal  indeed ! I thank  you, 
Thrasaric.” 

“So  be  it,  then,  with  the  horse,”  he  said  gloom- 
ily; for  now  again  he  did  not  know  how  to  pro^ 

ceed. 


238  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

Hilda  came  to  his  help.  “ And  your  brother?” 
she  inquired. 

“ Has  unfortunately  disappeared.  I have  had 
him  sought  for  everywhere,  in  his  villas  and  in  my 
own.  Not  a trace  of  him,  nor  of  the  beautiful 
Ionian  who — died  that  night,  can  be  found.  It  is 
possible  he  may  have  left  Catthage  by  sea.  So 
many  ships  have  sailed  recently  out  of  the  harbor, 
some  of  them,  I suppose — ” and  he  became  sudden- 
ly very  pale — “ for — for  Sicily.”  • 

“ Yes,”  Hilda  replied  with  indifference,  gazing 
at  the  same  time  out  of  the  window.  “ The 
black  horse  is  superb.” 

“ Ah,”  thought  Thrasaric,  “ she  is  gone.  It  is  a 
• fact.”  And  with  trembling  voice  he  said,  while 
his  eye  anxiously  sought  Hilda’s : “ Several  of 
them,  no  doubt,  were  bound  for  Syracuse?” 

She  leaned  out  of  the  window.  “ So  far  as  I 
know,  only  one,”  she  answered  unconcernedly. 

“ Then  it  is  true!”  he  cried  out  in  utter  de- 
spair. “ She  has  gone  to  her  father  in  Syracuse  ! 
She  has  cast  me  off  for  ever  ! O Eugenia ! Eu- 
genia !”  And  in  uncontrollable  grief  he  pressed 
against  the  wall  his  stalwart  arm  and  bowed  his 
head  down  upon  it. 

So  it  happened  that  he  did  not  see  how  violent- 
ly the  curtain  at  the  doorway  was  agitated. 


the  Last  of  the  va heals,  239 

“ O princess, ” he  cried,  with  an  effort  regaining 
his  self-command,  “it  is,  I know,  but  just.  I can- 
not blame  you,  indeed  I rather  commend  you, 
because  on  that  wild  night  you  tore  her  from  my 
arms.  Nor  can  I find  fault  with  her  because  she 
thrusts  me  from  her.  I know  I am  not  worthy 
of  her.  It  is  my  faulf — and  yet  not  mine  alone. 
The  women,  I mean  the  maidens  of  our  people, 
are  gjso  in  part  to  blame.  You  seem  astonished. 
But  tell  me,  Hilda,  have  you  ever  taken  to  your 
heart  as  a friend  a Vandal  woman  ? Eugenia,  the 
Greek,  the  child  of  the  humble  citizen,  is  nearer 
and  dearer  to  you  than  the  wives  and  daughters 
of  our  nobles.  I will  not  say — far  be  it  from 
me ! — that  the  Vandal  women  are  at  heart  as  vile 
and  degenerated  as  most  of  our  men.  Certainly 
not ! But  beneath  this  sky,  in  the  course  of  three 
generations,  they  also  have  deteriorated.  Gold, 
adornment,  trifles,  luxury,  but  gold  above  all,  arc 
the  desires  of  their  souls.  They  long  for  riches, 
for  immoderate  enjoyment,  almost  as  much  as  the 
Roman  women.  Their  nature  has  become  indo- 
lent. Not  one  of  them  understands  or  shares  Hil- 
da’s noble  enthusiasm.” 

“ Yes,  they  are  vain,  shallow,  and  spiritless,” 
lamented  the  princess. 

“ Is  it  a wonder,  then,  that  our  young  men  do 


; 40  THE  LAST  OF  THE  V A HEALS. 

not  seek  marriage  with  these  pretentious  dolls  ? 
Because  I am  rich,  fathers  and,  still  more  urgent- 
ly, obtrusive  mothers,  and  even — well,  I will  not 
say  that ! In  short,  many  a Vandal  woman  would 
have  been  my  wife,  had  I so  desired.  But  I loved 
none  of  them.  Only  this  child,  this  little  Grecian 
girl,  touched  my  heart.  And  I love  her  fondly, 
passionately,  from  the  very  depths  of  my  soul — 
love  her  with  a love  that  will  endure  as  long  as 
life  itself.” 

Hilda  listened  in  silence,  but  her  glance  stole 
across  the  room  to  the  curtained  doorway. 

“ And  now — now — I love  her  more  than  ever, 
my  pearl  that  I have  lost.  She  so  spares  my  un- 
worthy self,  she  so  honors  the  love  she  once  gave 
me,  that  she  has  not  even  revealed  to  you  my 
offence,  my  monstrous  crime.  But  ” — here  he 
drew  himself  up,  and  a thoroughly  noble  expres- 
sion rendered  his  strong,  manly  countenance  more 
handsome  than  ever — “ I have  imposed  upon 
myself  as  a penance,  in  case  she  has  not  spoken, 
to  make  the  confession  to  you  myself..  Write  that 
to  her;  perhaps  she  will  think  a little  less  unkind- 
ly of  me.  It  is  for  me  the  heaviest  of  all  possible 
punishments  to  tell  you  this  ; for,  Princess  Hil- 
da, I honor  you  as  I would  a goddess;  I honor 
you  as  the  protecting  deity  of  our  people.  It  is 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


24I 


like  death  to  me  that  my  own  words  must  teach 
you  to  despise  me.  Still  you  shall  know  the  truth  ! 
They  say — I do  not  myself  know,  but  I suppose  it 
is  true — that  I — for  Eugenia — I did  it  in  my 
drunkenness,  after  an  ocean  of  wine,  but  still,  I 
suppose,  I did  it!  And  I. am  not  worthy  ever  to 
look  upon  her  again  ! They  say — that  I-*—” 

“Not  you,  my  husband;  it  was  the  wine  that 
did  it !”  cried  a joyous  voice,  and  a slender,  girlish 
form  darted  across  the  room,  flung  herself  into 
Thrasaric’s  arms,  and  clung  lovingly  to  his  huge 
breast.  And  while  her  right  arm  stole  around  his 
neck,  she  pressed  the  dainty  fingers  of  her  left 
hand  upon  his  lips  to  stop  the  humiliating  con- 
fession. 

“Eugenia!”  he  exclaimed,  his  face  all  aglow 
with  surprise  and  delight,  “you  have  overheard? 
You  can  forgive  ? You  love  me  still?” 

“Until  death!  Even  into  the  grave!  Yes, 
beyond  them  both!  Should  I lose  you,  my  soul 
would  find  its  way  to  yours,  even  in  its  tomb.  In 
life,  and  in  death,  Thrasaric,  I am  yours.  For  I 
love  you.” 

“And  love  is  eternal,”  said  Hilda,  passing  her 
hand  caressingly  over  the  young  wife's  hair.  Then 
she  quietly  withdrew  from  the  room,  leaving  the 
reunited  lovers  alone  with  their  happiness. 


242  THE  LAST  OF  THE  V A HEALS. 

XXV. 

TO  CORNELIUS  CETHEGUS  CASSARIUS  FROM  PRO- 
COPIUS OF  CAESAREA. 

THERE  is  no  longer  any  reason  for  concealing  my 
name.  The  bird  would  be  recognized  at  any 
rate  by  his  song.  Besides,  I am  now  quite  sure 
that  these  pages  will  not  be  seized  in  Byzantium, 
for  we  shall  soon  be  swimming  gayly  over  the  sea. 

At  last,  then,  war  with  the  Vandals  ! The  em- 
press has  carried  her  point.  She  has  treated  her 
husband  with  decided  coolness  since  he  withdrew 
from  the  undertaking,  in  fact  right  contemptuous- 
ly. That  method  always  works. 

What  motive  has  been  urging  and  still  urges 
her  to  this  war  Satan,  no  doubt,  fully  under- 
stands, heaven  not  very  clearly,  and  I not  "at  all. 

Perhaps  she  thinks  the  blood  of  the'  heretics 
will  wash  away  another  batch  of  her  sins.  Or 
she  may  hope  to  get  possession  of  the  treasures 
which,  plundered  by  Geiseric’s  pirate-ships  from 
all  lands,  lie  heaped  up  in  the  Capitol  at  Carthage  ; 
the  treasures  of  the  Temple  at  Jerusalem  are 
among  them. 

In  short  she  wanted  the  war,  and  we  have  it. 

A pious  bishop  from  one  of  our  Asiatic  border- 
cities  came  to  Byzantium — the  man’s  .name  is 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


243 


Agathos.  The  empress  invited  him  to  a secret 
conference.  I learn  what  took  place  from 
Antonina,  the  wife  of  Belisarius  ; she  was  the  only 
other  person  present.  Theodora  showed  the 
bishop  a letter  he  had  written  to  the  Persian  king, 
upon  which  the  bishop  fell  in  fright  to  the  floor. 
She  touched  him  with  the  dainty  toe  of  her  gold- 
en shoe  and  said  : “ Arise,  Agathos,  man  of  God, 
and  dream  to-night  what  I now  tell  you.  And  if 
you  do  not  relate  this  dream  to  morrow  before 
noon  to  the  emperor,  then  I will  hand  him  this 
letter,  and  before  evening,  most  holy  man,  you 
will  be  beheaded.” 

The  bishop  went  away  and  dreamed  what  he 
was  commanded,  probably  without  even  falling 
asleep.  And  on  the  next  day,  even  before  the 
emperor’s  morning  bath,  Agathos  had  himself  an- 
nounced to  Justinian,  and  in  extreme  excitement 
— which,  I take  it,  was  not  assumed — related  to  him 
that  Christ  had  appeared  to  him  in  the  night  in  a 
dream,  and  had  spoken  : “ Go,  O Agathos,  to  the 
emperor,  and  reprove  him  because,  infirm  of  pur- 
pose, he  has  abandoned  his  plans  to  avenge  me 
on  the  heretics.  Say  to  him  : Thus  speaks  Christ 
the  Lord  : Set  forth,  Justinian,  and  fear  not.  For 
J,  the  Lord,  will  assist  you  in  the  battle,  and  will 
bring  Africa  and  its  treasures  under  your  power/  ” 


244 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


Thereupon  Justinian  could  no  longer  be  held 
back.  The  war  was  at  once  decided  upon.  The 
prefect,  praetorian,  who  opposed  it,  was  removed 
and  cast  into  prison.  From  the  pulpits  of  all  the 
basilicas  in  Byzantium  the  priests  announced  the 
dream  of  the  pious  bishop.  The  soldiers  were 
led  by  centuries  into  the  churches,  where  courage 
was  preached  into  them.  Officials  proclaimed 
the  dream  in  the  streets,  at  the  harbor,  upon  the 
ships.  By  command  of  the  empress,  Megas,  her 
most  polished  court  and  personal  poet,  rendered 
the  dream  into  Greek  and  Latin  verges. 

They  are  atrociously  bad — worse  even  than 
those  our  Megas  is  accustomed  to  make ; but 
they  can  be  easily  remembered,  and  so  by  day 
and  by  night  the  soldiers  and  sailors  shout  them 
out  through  the  streets  and  in  the  taverns,  just  as 
children  sing  in  the  dark  to  give  themselves  cour- 
age. For  it  must  be  confessed  that  our  soldiers 
do  not  yet  feel  altogether  comfortable  in  regard 
to  this  holy  expedition  against  Carthage  ; conse- 
quently we  all  keep  singing: 

“ Christ  appeared  to  the  good  bishop;  sent  him  to 
Justinian  : 

’Venge  thou  Christ,  Justinianus,  on  the  wicked  Arians. 
Christ  himself  strikes  down  the  Vandals,  subduing 
for  thee  Africa/  " * 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  2 4^ 

This  poem  has  two  advantages : first,  that  one 
can,  if  he  pleases,  say  it  over  a good  many  times ; 
second,  that  it  is  a matter  of  entire  indifference 
with  which  line  you  begin.  The  empress  says — 
and  she  ought  to  know — that  Megaswas  divinely 
inspired  when  he  wrote  it.  In  which  case  the 
spirit  that  inspired  him  left  him  a little  in  the 
lurch  with  his  trochees  in  the  third  line — a mishap 
which  not  infrequently  occurs  in  verses  of  some 
of  our  uninspired  court  poets. 

We  are  at  work  day  and  night.  In  the  streets 
of  Byzantium  you  can  hear  the  whinnying  of  the 
little,  shaggy  Hunnish  horses.  Among  these  Huns 
are  six  hundred  excellent  archers.  Aigan,  Bleda, 
and  Bala  are  the  chiefs  who  lead  them.  In 
addition  to  these  there  are  six  hundred  Herulians 
under  Fara,  a prince  of  his  nation.  They  are 
Germans  in  the  pay  . of  Justinian.  Only  the  ‘dia- 
mond cuts  the  diamond,’  says  Narses,  and  ‘ Ger- 
man against  German’  has  long  been  our  favorite 
game. 

Strong  detachments  of  other  * barbarians  also 
are  marching  through  our  streets,  barbarians 
when  we  call  “ allies  ” — -that  is,  we  give  them  gol^d 
or  grain,  and  they  pay  for  it  in  the  blood  of  their 
sons ; among  these  are  Isaurians,  Armenians,  and 
pthers,  under  leaders  of  their  own  race.  Of 


246  . THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

the  people  of  our  empire  the  Thracians  and  Illy- 
rians furnish  the  best  soldiers. 

In  the  harbor  the  ships  are  rocking  in  the  east 
wind,  impatiently  straining  at  their  anchors,  their 
prows  turned  towards  the  west,  an  if  longing  for 
the  combat. 

Gradually  the  army  is  being  embarked.  There 
are  1 1,000  infantry  and  5000  cavalry,  conveyed  on 
five  hundred  ships  with  20,000  sailors.  The  best 
battle-ships  among  these  are  102  swift-sailing  clro- 
inones  manned  with  2000  rowers  from  Byzantium. 
The  other  sailors  are  Egyptians,  Ionians,  and 
Cilicians. 

The  whole  expedition  presents  a fine  and  war- 
like aspect,  which,  however,  I would  rather  look 
at  than  attempt  to  describe.  But  the  most  glo^ 
rious  sight  of  all  is  the  hero  Belisarius  surrounded 
by  his  chosen  body-guard — men  armed  with  shields 

and  long  lances,  and  thoroughly  tried  in  battle. 
****** 

Already  half  of  our  ocean  journey  lies  behind 
us.  I am  writing  now  in  the  port  of  Syracuse. 

So  far  all  has  gone  wonderfully  well  with  us. 
It  almost  seems  as  if  the  goddess  you  Latins  call 
Fortune  fills  our  sails  for  us. 

Towards  the  end  of  June  the  embarkation  was 
completed*  Then  the  general’s  ship,  which  was 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS 

to  carry  Belisarius,  was  ordered  to  i>e  brought 
near  the  shore,  in  front  of  the  imperial  palace, 
and  Archbishop  Epiphanus  of  Byzantium  ap- 
peared on  board,  bringing  with  him,  as  the  last 
man  to  enter  the  ship,  an  Arian  whom  he  had 
just  baptized  in  the  Catholic  faith.  The  arch- 
bishop blessed  the  commander’s  ship,  and  Belisa- 
rius and  all  of  .us,  even  the  heathen  Huns.  Then 
he  descended  again  into  his  boat,  and  amid  the 
acclamations  of  the  multitude  our  ship  got  under 
Way,  and  was  followed  by  the  whole  fleet.  We 
are  all  very  pious-minded  people,  whom  the  em- 
press and  her  conveniently-dreaming  bishop  and 
Justinian  are  sending  to  root  out  the  heretics. 
“ It  is  a holy  war  ; we  are  fighting  for  Christ/' 
We  have  repeated  this  so  often,  that  at  last  we 
believe  it  ourselves. 

Our  course  lay  by  way  of  Perinthus — Heraclea 
it  is  called  now — to  Abydos.  There  a quarrel 
broke  out  among  some  drunken  Huns,  and  two  of 
them  killed  a third.  Belisarius  had  both  the  cul- 
prits hanged  without  delay  upon  the  hill  beyond 
the  city. 

The  Huns,  especially  the  kinsmen  of  the  two 
who  had  been  executed,  became  unruly.  Accord- 
ing to  Hunnish  law,  death  is  by  no  means  the  pun- 
ishment for  murder.  My  belief  is  that  Hunni-sh 


248  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

m 

law  permits  the  heirs  of  the  murdered  man  to 
drink  at  the  expense  pf  the  murderers  until  the 
whole  party  lie  upon  the  ground  helplessly  drunk  ; 
when  they  come  to  their  senses  they  kiss  each 
other,  and  all  is  forgotten  : for  the  Huns  are  more 
intemperate  drinkers  than  the  Germans,  and  that 
is  saying  a good  deal.  Besides,  they  had  con- 
tracted with  the  emperor  only  for  military  ser- 
vice, arid  he  had  no  right  to  judge  them  accord- 
ing to  Roman  law.  Belisarius  assembled  the  Huns 
around  the  gallows  from  which  the  dead  men 
dangled,  surrounded  them  with  his  most  faithful 
troops,  and  roared  at  them  like  a lion.  I do  not 
suppose  they  understood  his  Latin, — to  speak  pre- 
cisely, I should  say  my  Latin,  for  it  was  I who 
wrote  the  speech  and  drilled  him  in  it, — but  he 
pointed  from  time  to  time  to  the  men  on  the  gal- 
lows, and  they  understood  that.  And  now  they 
follow  us  like  lambs. 

From  Abydos  our  voyage  proceeded  by  way  of 
Sigeum,  Taenarum,  and  Mentone.  There  a num- 
ber of  our  people  died.  For  the  commissary  of 
provisions  at  Byzantium,  instead  of  furnishing 
hard-baked  bread,  had  the  lumps  of  dough  sunk  in 
the  water  of  the  public  baths  (how  appetizing ! but, 
to  be  sure,  it  cost  him  nothing),  and  then  browned 
quickly  on  the  outside  in  red-hot  pans.  Prepared 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA JVEALS.  249 

in  this  .way  the  bread  was  considerably  heavier  ; 
indeed  he  gained  an  ounce  or  two  on  every  pound, 
and  the  emperor  paid  for  it  by  weight.  But  in  a 
few  days  this  delightful  preparation  settled  down 
into  a mass  of  stinking  paste,  and  five  hundred 
men  died  from  eating  it.  The  emperor  was  in- 
formed of  the  matter,  but  Theodora  interceded 
for  the  poor  commissary,  who  had  to  pay  her  ten 
times  the  amount  of  his  profit  in  return  for  her 
Christian  mediation,  and  the  man  received  only  an 
admonition.  From  Mentone  we  sailed  past  Za- 
cynthus  to  Sicily,  where  after  a voyage  of  sixteen 
days  we  cast  anchor  in  the  old  and  now  disused 
roadstead  of  Cancana,  opposite  Mount  ZEtna. 

But  now  Belisarius  began  to  grow  troubled  and 
anxious.  By  nature  he  is  so  eager  for  fighting 
that  he  rushes  blindly  into  it,  if  an  enemy  is 
anywhere  pointed  out  to  him.  Consequently  his 
impatience  and  anxiety  increased  every  hour ; for 
none  of  the  spies,  whom  he  sent  out  from  Byzan- 
tium long  before  his  departure,  have  returned 
either  to  the  city  itself  or  to  any  of  the  prear- 
ranged stopping-places  on  our  voyage.  Therefore 
the  commander-in-chief  knows  about  as  much  con- 
cerning the  Vandals  as  about  the  people  in  the 
moon. 

What  sort  of  men  they  are,  what  their  plan  of 


250 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


battle  wiU  be,  how  we  are  to  get  at  them,  are 
thus  far  insoluble  riddles  to  us.  In  addition  to 
this,  the  soldiers  have  relapsed  into  their  old  fear 
of  Geiseric’s  fleet,  and  there  is  no  empress  on 
board  to  induce  somebody  to  dream  again.  The 
limping  trochees  of  the  poet  are  seldom  sung  any 
more.  Our  people  are  not  in  the  mood  for  sing 
ing : if  any  one  inadvertently  starts  up  the  tune, 
two  others  forthwith  fall  upon  him  and  cuff  him  un- 
til he  desists.  Only  the  Huns  and  the  Heruli — to 
our  disgrace  be  it  said — refrain  from  open  lamen- 
tation : they  are  gloomily  silent.  But  our  warriors 
—the  Romans— do  not  hesitate  to  proclaim  aloud  : 
they  would  fight  valiantly  enough  on  land, — 
they  are  used  to  that,— but  if  we  should  be  at- 
tacked on  the  open  sea,  they  would  compel  the 
sailors  to  get  out  of  the  way  as  fast  as  possible  with 
sails  and  oars:  to  fight  on  a rolling,  pitching 
ship  with  Germans  and  waves  and  wind,  all  at  the 
same  time,  is  not  to  be  expected,  and  is  not  stipu- 
lated for  in  the  terms  of  their  enlistment.  Beli- 
sarius,  however,  is  chiefly  concerned  about  his  un- 
certainty with  regard  to  the  plans  of  the  enemy. 
Where  is  it  lurking,  this  dreaded  fleet?  Every 
hour  that  we  hear  nothing  of  it,  see  nothing  of  it, 
renders  us  more  and  more  uneasy.  Does  it  lie 
concealed  behind  one  of  the  neighboring  islands  [ 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS.  2$  I 

Does  it  keep  watch,  lying  in  wait  for  us,  on  the 
coast  of  Africa?  If  so,  where?  And  where  are 
we  ta  land? 

I suggested  yesterday  that  he  ought  to  have 
considered  these  matters  before.  Whereupon  he 
muttered  something  in  his  beard  and  bade  me 
make  good  the  oversight  to  the  best  of  my  ability. 

I have  come  to  Syracuse,  under  the  pretext  of 
purchasing  supplies  from  your  Ostrogothic  rulers, 
but  really  to  find  out  about  these  Vandals  all  that 
Belisarius  does  not  know  and  yet  needs  to  learn. 

I have  been  here  since  yesterday,  and  I have 
asked  every  one  I met  about  the  Vandals.  And 
every  one  laughs  at  me  and  says  : “ If  Belisarius  is 
ignorant,  how  are  we  to  know?  We  are  not  at 
war  with  them.”  And  it  seems  to  me  the  saucy 
fellows  are  about  right. 


XXVI. 

Triumph,  Cethegus!  The  old  good  luck  of 
Belisarius  hovers  around  the  pennants  at  our  mast- 
heads. The  gods  themselves  have  blinded  the 
Vandals,  have  taken  away  their  reason,  and  must, 
therefore,  wish  for  their  destruction.  Hermes 
clears  our  path  for  us  and  removes  all  difficulties 
and  dangers  from  our  way. 


252  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

The  fleet  of  the  Vandals,  that  terror  of  our  val- 
iant soldiers,  sails  harmlessly  off  to  the  north, 
while  with  every  stitch  of  canvas  set — and  merrily 
the  east  wind  blows  us  on — we  are  hurrying  from 
Sicily  over  the  blue  waves  towards  the  west,  to 
Carthage. 

Our  ships  cleave  the  ruffled  waters  as  peacefully 
as  if  we  were  on  a festal  procession.  No  enemy, 
far  and  wide,  to  block  our  course,  no  spy  to  watch 
us,  or  to  announce  our  approach  to  our  doomed 
victims,  upon  whom  we  shall  descend  like  a me- 
teor falling  from  a clear  sky. 

And  that  all  this  came  to  our  general's  knowl- 
edge, that  he  is  able  at  once  to  avail  himself  of 
the  information,  is  due  entirely  to  Procopius. 
Or  ought  I more  truthfully  to  say  to  blind  chance, 
that  capricious  goddess,  that  seems  to  me — al- 
though I am  no  philosopher — even  more  than 
Nemesis,  to  control  the  destiny  of  nations? 

I wrote  you  the  last  time  that  I was  running 
about  the  streets  of  Syracuse  in  considerable  per- 
plexity, and  getting  laughed  at  for  my  pains 
when  I inquired  from  the  various  people  I met 
whether  they  had  seen  anything  of  the  Vandals. 
One  of  those  I questioned,  a Gothic  naval  officer, 
Totila  by  name,  and  as  fine-looking  as  he  is 
haughty,  shrugged  his  shoulders  and  said  “ Search 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 


253 


for  your  enemies  yourself.  Much  rather  would  I 
make  common  cause  with  the  Vandals  to  seek  out 
your  fleet  and  -sink  it.”  While  I was  still  think- 
ing how  rightly  this  young  barbarian  recognized 
the  true  interests  of  his  people  and  the  folly  of 
their  queen-regent,  and  much  out  of  humor  with 
the  Goths,  with  myself,  and  above  all  with  Belisa- 
rius,  I turned  suddenly  the  corner  of  a street  and 
almost  ran  my  nose  against  a man  coming  from 
the  opposite  direction.  It  was  Hegelochos,  my 
school-companion  from  Caesarea,  who,  I knew, 
had  settled  down  as  a merchant,  a grain-specula- 
tor, somewhere  in  Sicily,  but  in  what  city  I was 
ignorant. 

“ What  are  you  seeking  here  ?”  he  asked  after 
our  first  greeting. 

“ I ? Oh,  merely  a trifle,”  I replied  with  some 
vexation,  for  I heard  already  in  my  fancy  his 
mocking  laugh.  “ I am  seeking  everywhere  about 
a hundred  and  fifty  to  two  hundred  Vandal  war- 
galleys.  Do  you  happen  to  know  where  they 
are?” 

“Oh  yes,  I can  tell  you,”  he  replied  without 
laughing.  “ They  lie  in  the  harbor  of  Karalis  in 
Sardinia.” 

“Omniscient  grain-dealer,”  I cried  in  unaffected 
astonishment,  “where  did  you  find  out  that?” 


254  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

“ In  Carthage/’  he  replied.  “ I left  that  city 

just  three  days  ago.” 

And  now  my  questions  flew  thick  afid  fast.  And 
as  often  as  I pressed  my  inquiries  upon  this  well- 
informed  and  observant  man,  I obtained  from  him, 
as  from  a sponge,  a stream  of  information  most 
important  to  us. 

Well,  then,  asjar  as  our  fleet  is  concerned,  we 
have  nothing  to  fear  from  the  Vandals.  The  bar- 
barians h'ave  as  yet  no  suspicion  that  we  are  on 
the  way  to  attack  them.  The  best  of  their  troops 
have  been  sent  with  the  dreaded  war-ships  to 
Sardinia.  Gelimer  has  made  no  preparations  to 
defend  Carthage  or  any  other  city  on  the  coast. 
He  is  himself  at  Hermione,  four  days’  march  from 
the  sea.  What  can  he  be  doing  there  on  the  verge 
of  the  desert  ? Consequently,  secure  from  every 
danger,  we  can  cross  the  Mediterranean  and  land 
in  Africa,  wherever  the  wind,  the  waves,  and  our 
own  desires  bring  us. 

In  the  course  of  this  conversation,  and  while  I 
continued  to  ply  him  with  questions,  I had  thrown 
my  arm  around  my  friend’s  neck.  At  length  I 
ventured  upon  the  request  that  he  would  accom- 
pany me  to  the  harbor  and  take  a look  at  my 
ship,  which  lay  there  at  anchor.  “ It  is  a swift- 
sailing vessel,”  said  I,  “ built  upon  a new  model, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 2$$ 

and  I think  will  interest  you.”  The  merchant 
consented.  As  soon  as  I had  him  safe  on  board, 
I drew  my  sword,  cut  the  rope  that  fastened  us 
to  the  bronze  ring  on  the  pier,  and  commanded 
my  crew  to  make  for  Caucana  as  quickly  as  pos- 
sible. 

Hegelochos  was  frightened,  and  began  to  scold 
and  threaten.  But  I soon  pacified  him.  “ Pardon 
this  abduction,  my  friend,”  I said,  “ but  it  is  indis- 
pensable that  Belisarius  himself,  and  not  merely 
his  legal  adviser,  should  speak  with  you  and  ques- 
tion you.  For  he  alone  knows  precisely  what  is 
essential  to  his  plans.  And  I dare  not  incur  the 
responsibility  of  having  omitted  to  ask  something 
important  or  of  having  misunderstood  an  answer. 
Some  god  who  is  incensed  against  the  Vandals 
has  sent  you  here ; and  woe  to  me  if  I do  not 
profit  by  it ! You  must  give  our  commander  all 
the  information  you  possess ; you  must  accorm 
pany,  yes,  if  need  be,  pilot  our  ships  to  Africa. 
And  this  one  involuntary  journey  to  Carthage  will 
. yield  you  richer  gains  from  the  royal  hoard  of  the 
Vandals  than  if  you  should  make  a hundred  voy- 
ages with  cargoes  of  grain.  Besides  which  I will 
not  attempt  to  reckon  the  reward  which  awaits 
you  in  heaven  for  your  co-operation  in  annihilat- 
ing the  heretics.”  He  smiled,  his  countenance 
cleared,  and  finally  he  broke  into  a laugh. 


256  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

. But  still  more  joyous  was  the  smile  on  the  face 
of  the  hero  Belisarius  when  he  saw  before  him  a 
man  “ fresh  from  Carthage/’  whom  he  could  ques- 
tion to  his  heart’s  content.  How  he  praised  me — 
for  the  accidental  meeting!  With  a peal  of  the 
trumpets  the  command  was  given  to  set  out. 
How  the  wind  swells  our  sails  aloft ! How  glori- 
ously our  ships  plough  their  course  through  the 
waves!  Woe  to  you,  Vandalia!  Woe  to  you, 
turreted  city  of  Geiseric! 

Our  course  lay  past  the  islands  Gaulos  and 
Melita,  which  separate  the  Adriatic  from  the 
Tyrrhenian  sea.  Off  Melita  the  wind  freshened, 
as  if  obedient  to  the  command  of  Belisarius,  into 
a strong  gale  from  the  east,  bearing  us  on  the 
next  day  to  Caput-Bada  on  the  African  coast,  five 
days’  march  from  Carthage.  I mean  five  days  for 
a good  traveller  without  baggage ; we  shall  of 
course  require  a much  longer  time.  Belisarius 
commanded  the  sails  to  be  furled  and  the  fleet  to 
come  to  anchor ; meanwhile  all  the  lieutenants  are 
summoned  to  the  commander’s  ship  to  a council 
of  war.  The  important  point  to  be  decided  now 
is,  whether  we  shall  disembark  the  troops  and 
march  on  Carthage  by  land  or  keep  them  on  the 
ships  and  make  our  attack  upon  the  city  from  the 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 257 

sea.  With,  respect  to  this,  opinions  are  greatly  at 
variance. 

It  is  decided : we  proceed  by  land  to  Carthage. 
It  is  true  Archelaos,  the  quaestor,  objected  that  we 
have  no  harbor  for  our  ships.  A storm  might 
scatter  them  over  the  sea  or  drive  them  upon  the 
rocks  along  the  coast.  He  brought  forward  also 
the  lack  of  water  in  the  coast-regions  and  the  diffi- 
culty of  procuring  provisions.  “ If  you  adopt  this 
plan,  I have  one  request  to  make,’'  he  said  bitterly : 
“ that  no  one  will  demand  from  me,  as  quaestor, 
anything  to  eat.  A quaestor  who  has  only  his 
office,  but  no  provisions,  cannot  satisfy  your  appe- 
tite with  his  official  position.” 

He  advised  that  we  should  hasten  by  sea  to 
Carthage  and  seize  the  harbor  of  Stagnum,  which 
is  large  enough  for  the  entire  fleet  and  at  the  pres- 
ent time  is  wholly  undefended.  From  our  camp 
there  we  could  attack  the  city,  which  would  fall 
at  the  first  onset,  provided  the  king  and  his  army 
are  really  in  the  interior,  four  days’  march  from  the 
coast. 

But  Belisarius  said  : “ God  has  fulfilled  our  most 
earnest  wish ; he  has  permitted  us  to  reach  Africa 
without  encountering  the  hostile  fleet.  Are  we 
now,  all  the  same,  to  remain  upon  the  sea  and  per- 


2$8  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS 

m 

haps  still  have  to  contend  with  those  ships  before 
which  our  people  openly  threaten  to  take  to  flight  ? 
So  far  as  regards  the  storms — better  let  the  ves- 
sels go  to  the  bottom  empty  than  with  us  on 
board.  Now  we  have  the  advantage  in  surpris- 
ing an  unprepared  enemy;  every  delay  gives  them 
opportunity  to  bring  their  forces  into  the  field. 
We  can  disembark  here  without  a battle.  Later 
and  in  another  place  we  might  have  to  force  a 
landing  against  both  the  enemy  and  the  elements. 
Therefore  I say,  let  us  go  ashore  here.  A wall 
and  a ditch  around  our  camp  will  soon  provide  us 
with  a place  of  defence,  should  we  require  pne. 
And  have  no  fear  about  supplies.  As  soon  as  we 
defeat  the  enemy  we  can  make  use  of  theirs.”- 

So  spoke  Belisarius.  I considered — as  usual — 
his  arguments  rather  weak,  but  his  courage  un- 
bounded. The  truth  is  that  he  always  chooses 
the  nearest  road  to  battle. 

The  opinion  of  Belisarius,  of  course,  prevailed, 
and  the  council  of  war  was  dismissed.  Then  the 
horses,  arms,  baggage,  and  engines  of  war  were 
put  on  shore.  About  fourteen  thousand  soldiers 
and  nineteen  thousand  sailors  began  to  shovel,  to 
dig,  and  to  drive  stakes  in  the  hot,  dry  sand. 
Only  a thousand  men  were  posted  as  guards,  and 
a thousand  sailors  remained  on  the  ships.  Our 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


general  dug  the  first  spadeful  of  dirt  and  also  the 
last,  but  between  the  two  he  continued  uninter- 
ruptedly at  work.  Spurred  on  by  his  example, 
all  worked  so  indefatigably  that  before  night  the 
ditch,  the  wall,  and  even  the  empalement  were 
completed  around  the  entire  camp.  Only  five 
archers  passed  the  night  upon  each  ship. 

So  far  all  is  well.  Our  spacious  ships  still  contain 
abundant  supplies  of  provisions,  thanks  to  the 
liberality  of  the  Ostrogoths  in  Sicily.  For  what- 
ever an  army  could  possibly  need  for  man  or  horse 
was  furnished  in  abundance  by  these  blockheads, 
the  disobliging  Totila,  who  does  not  wish  us  well, 
having  been  at  once  recalled.  By  command  of 
the  queen-regent  the  stores  were  almost  presented 
to  us,  and  to  the  questions  asked  by  us  in  our  as- 
tonishment we  received  the  reply  by  the  order  of 
the  learned  Cassiodorus : “You  repay  us  because 
you  avenge  us  on  the  Vandals. ” 

Well,  Justinian  will  not  fail  to  reward  the  Os- 
trogoths, possibly  in  a way  they  do  not  expect.  I 
wonder  whether  the  learned  minister  knows  the 
fable  how  man  with  the  aid  of  the  horse  pursued 
and  destroyed  the  stag,  which  the  horse  detested. 
The  noble  beast  took  the  rider  on  his  back  for  this 
one  ride,  and  never  afterwards  could  get  rid  of 
him. 


266  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

Unfortunately  our  supply  of  water  is  getting 
low.  And  even  the  little  that  we  have  left  is  be- 
coming almost  too  foul  for  use.  Without  water 
for  man  and  beast  how  shall  we  be  able  to  march 
for  days  under  this  African  sun  ? This  is  a matter 
which  threatens  to  prove  serious. 


I myself  shall  soon  be  compelled  to  believe  that 
we  are  God’s  chosen  instruments — we,  the  soldiers 
of  the  truthful  Justinian  and  the  chaste-hearted 
Theodora  ! Or  have  the  people  and  king  of  the 
Vandals  so  brought  upon  themselves  the  anger  of 
Heaven  that  miracle  upon  miracle  occurs  to  their 
detriment  and  in  our  favor? 

Yesterday  evening  we  were  all,  from  the  com- 
mander-in-chief down  to^the  humblest  camel,  in 
the  greatest  anxiety  about  water.  Early  this 
morning  my  slave  Agnellus  brought  amphora  after 
amphora  of  delicious  spring-water  to  my  tent.. 
Not  merely  enough  for  drinking*  but  abundance 
also  for  a bath.  On  the  eastern  edge  of  the  camp 
our  Heruli,  with  the  last  strokes  of  their  spades,, 
struck  a large  and  copiously  flowing  spring — a; 
thing  unheard  of  before  in  the  province  of  Byza- 
cium — between  the  sea  and  the  “desert.”  For  by 
this  name  the  people  here  designate  ail  the  land 
southwest  of  the  great  highway  along  which  we 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  26 1 

are  about  to  march.  The  term  seems  to  me  de- 
cidedly unjust,  for  a part  of  the  country  is  very 
fruitful ; however,  it  is  old  waste  land  and  often 
merges  almost  imperceptibly  into  the  true  desert. 
At  all  events,  this  spring  gushed  out  from  the  dry 
sand  around  it,  and  so  bounteously  does  it  pour 
forth  its  water  that  men  and  beasts  can  drink  and 
bathe  to  their  hearts’  content,  while  the  spoiled 
water  on  board  the  ships  can  be  poured  out  and 
replaced  with  the  very  best. 

I hastened  to  Belisarius  and  congratulated  him, 
not  merely  on  account  of  the  real  utility  of  this 
discovery,  but  also  on  account  of  the  augury  of 
success  which  it  brings  with  it.  . “ Water  gushes 
forth  from  the  desert  for  you,  my  general,”  I cried. 
“ That  betokens  an  easy  victory.  You  are  indeed 
the  favorite  of  Heaven  and  the  wonder  of  the 
world.”  He  smiled.  I suppose  a man  is  apt  to 
hear  such  things  with  complacency. 


I am  commissioned  to  draw  up  a military  decree, 
which  is  to  be  read  to  every  division  of  the  army, 
when  it  breaks  camp. 

A score  or  two  of  our  worthy  Huns  trotted  off 
into  the  country  and  helped  themselves  to  the 
crops  already  ripe  in  the  fields.  This  proceeding 
naturally  led  to  a not  altogether  friendly  exchange 


262  THE  last  of  the  vandals. 

of  compliments  with  the  Roman  colonists.  As 
the  Huns  unfortunately  speak  Latin  only  with 
their  javelins  and  leather  scourges,  the  conference 
resulted  in  the  loss  of  a couple  of  lives.  Of  course 
this  was  on  the  part  of  the  selfish  peasants,  who 
objected  to  the  Hunnish  horses  breakfasting  on 
the  appetizing  grain.  Our  Huns  cut  off  the  heads 
of  the  colonists,  now  happily  freed  from  the  Van- 
dal yoke,  hung  them  from  the  pommels  of  their 
saddles,  and  brought  them,  as  an  after-dinner  dish, 
to  our  general. 

Belisarius  foamed  with  rage.  He  often  does 
that.  And  when  Belisarius  lightens,  then  must 
Procopius  provide  the  thunder. 

I wrote,  accordingly,  a military  decree  to  the 
effect  that  we  have  come  here  as  the  deliverers  and 
friends  of  the  provincials,  and  that,  therefore,  our 
soldiers  will  not  be  permitted  to  appropriate  the 
best  grain-fields  as  fodder  for  their  horses  or  to 
play  ball  with  the  people’s  heads.  “ In  this  case,” 
I wrote,  “ such  conduct  is  not  merely  culpable  : it 
is  also  stupid.  For  our  small  army  has  dared  to 
land  here  only  because  we  suppose  that  the  pro- 
vincials are  hostile  to  the  Vandals  and  will  assist 
us.”  I impressed  this  view  still  more  strongly 
upon  our  heroes — not  upon  their  honor,'  not 
upon  their  conscience,  but  upon  their  stomachs. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  263 

“ You  will  starve  to  death,  my  excellent  friends/’ 
I wrote,  “ if  the  peasants  bring  you  nothing  to  eat. 
If  you  kill  them,  those  who  are  dead  cannot  sell 
you  anything  more,  and  the  living,  so  far  as  they 
can  help  themselves,  will  not.  Besides,  your  con- 
duct will  drive  the  provincials  into  an  alliance  with 
the  Vandals.  Therefore,  spare  the  people — at  least 
at  the  start.  Else  they  will  find  out  too  soon 
that  the  Huns  of  Belisarius  are  worse  than  the 
Vandals  of  Gelimer.  When  once  the  emperor’s 
tax-collectors  take  up  their  abode  in  the  land,  then, 
amiable  descendants  of  Attila,  there  will  be  no  fur- 
ther need  to  keep  yourselves  under  constraint,  for 
by  that  time  the  emancipated  will  have  learned 
justly  to  appreciate  their  ‘ freedom.’  ” 

To  this  purpose,  only  more  elegantly  and  less 
frankly  worded,  ran  the  general’s  decree. 

Our  advance  has  begun.  As  yet  no  trace  of  the 
barbarians.  Where  are  they?  Where  does  he 
dream  away  the  time,  this  King  of  the  Vandals  ? 
Unless  he  awakes  soon,  he  will  awake  without  a 
kingdom* 


We  are  steadily  pushing  forward,  and  fortune 
smiles  upon  us. 

A day’s  march  towards  the  west  from  our  land- 
ing-place at  Caput-Bada,  on  the  road  towards 


264  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

Carthage,  lies,  not  far  from  the  sea,  the  city  of 
Syllectum.  Its  old  walls,  it  is  true,  have  been 
torn  down  since  Geiseric’s  time  ; but  the  inhabi- 
tants, in  order  to  ward  off  the  incursions  of  the 
Moors,  have  put  the  place  again  into  a state  of 
defence.  Belisarius  sent  Borais,  an  officer  of  his 
body-guard,  with  a small. detachment  to  attempt 
a coup-de-main  upon  the  town.  It  succeeded  ad- 
mirably. After  it  had  become  dark  our  people 
crept  up  to  the  entrances, — they  can  hardly  be 
called  gates, — but  found  them  barred  and  guarded. 
They  passed  the  night  in  the  ditches  of  the  old 
fortifications,  for  it  was  possible  there  might  be 
Vandals  in  the  town.  In  the  morning  the  peasants 
of  the  surrounding  country  came  up  with  their 
large  wains — it  was  market-day.  Our  men  threat- 
ened the  frightened  peasants  with  death  in  case 
they  gave  any  alarm,  and  compelled  the  driyers  to 
conceal  our  soldiers  under  the  coverings  of  their 
wagons.  The  guards  of  Syllectum  removed  the 
barricade  at  the  entrance  to  the  town  in  order  that 
the  wagons  might  enter  as  usual.  Then  our  men 
sprang  from  their  concealment,  obtained  posses- 
sion of  the  city  without  a stroke  of  the  sword, — 
there  were  no  Vandals  in  it, — placed  a guard  in 
the  senate-house  and  the  forum,  summoned  the 
Catholic  bishop  and  the  principal  citizens^surpris- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS.  265 

ingly  stupid  people  ! — into  the  forum,  and  ex- 
plained to  them  that  they  were  now  free,  and 
happy,  for  were  they  not  the  subjects  of  Justinian  ? 
At  the  same  time,  however,  our  soldiers  with  drawn 
swords  politely  asked  for  breakfast.  The  senators 
of  Syllectum  handed  Borais  the  keys  of  their  city ; 
unfortunately  the  gates  that  belonged  to  them 
were  wanting,  as  the  Vandals  or  the  Moors  had 
long  ago  burned  these  down.  The  bishop  enter- 
tained our  men  in  the  vestibule  of  the  church. 
Borais  says  the  wine  was  very  good.  After  break- 
fast the  bishop  blessed  Borais,  and  asked  him  to 
re-establish  the  true  and  holy  faith  as  quickly  as 
possible.  Borais,  who  is  a Hun,  is,  unfortunately, 
also  a heathen ; consequently  he  did  not  under- 
stand very  clearly  what  was  expected  of  him. 
But  he  repeated  to  me  several  times  that  the  wine 
was  very  good.  Thus,  you  see,  we  have  already 
delivered  one  African  city.  In  the  evening  we 
all  marched  through.  Belisarius  enjoined  upon 
us  the  strictest  discipline,  but  I regret  to  say  that 
the  flames  of  a good  many  houses  illuminated  our 
march. 

Beyond  Syllectum  we  met  with  another  stroke 
of  good-fortune.  The  chief  official  whose  duty  it 
was  to  superintend  the  forwarding  of  the  Vandal 
royal  despatches  was  sent  from  Carthage  by  the 


266  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

king  some  days  ago  with  his  horses,  wagons,  and 
many  slaves,  to  bear  the  royal  orders  to  all  parts 
of  the  kingdom.  He  heard,  on  his  way  towards 
the  east,  of  our  landing,  and  sought  us  out,  with 
all  that  he  had  with  him. 

All  the  despatches,  all  the  secret  messages  of 
the  Vandals  are  in  the  hands  of  Belisarius.  A 
whole  basketful,  which  I have  to  read  over  ! 

It  is  really  as  if  an  angel  of  the  Lord  had  made 
us  invisible  and  led  us  into  the  council-chamber  of 
the  Asdingf.  Most  of  the  writings  were  dictated 
by  Verus,  the  archdeacon  of  the  Arians.  In  this 
priest,  however,  we  have  been  thoroughly  deceived. 
Theodora  looks  upon  him  as  her  tool.  And  he 
has  become  Gelimer’s  chancellor ! It  is  singular, 
though,  that  these  state  secrets  are  entrusted  to  a 
Roman  rather  than  to  a Vandal.  Ought  not  Ve- 
rus to  have  known  how  near  we  were  when  he 
sent  these  important  letters  without  protection, 
as  it  were  into  our  very  hands  ? 

It  is  true,  what  is  most  important  for  us  to 
know  just  now,  namely,  where  the  king  and  his 
army  are  at  present,  cannot  be  found  out  from 
these  letters  of  a week  ago.  Yet  we  have  learned 
from  them  what  induces  him  to  remain  so  far 
away  from  Carthage  and  the  coast,  on  the  verge 
of  the  desert,  and  indeed  in  the  desert  itself.  He 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  267 

has  succeeded  in  making  treaties  with  a number  of 
Moorish  tribes,  and  has  obtained  from  them,  as 
mercenaries,  a force  of  many  thousand  infantry — 
almost  as  many  as  our  whole  army.  These  Moor- 
ish auxiliaries  are  assembling  in  Numidia,  in  the 
plain  of  Bulla.  That  is  far  to  the  west  of  Carthage, 
near  the  border  of  the  desert.  Can  it  be  possible 
that  the  Vandal  will  give  up  his  capital  and  so 
much  of  his  kingdom  without  a blow,  and  intends 
to  await  us  yonder  at  Bulla  ? 

Belisarius  is  now  sending  out — what  a freak  of 
chance ! — by  the  official  Vandal  posts  in  all  direc- 
tions Justinian's  declaration  of  war,  and  an  invita- 
tion to  all  the  Vandal  nobles,  leaders,  and  officials 
to  revolt  from  Gelimer.  The  invitation  is  well 
worded,  for  I composed  it  myself.  “ It  is  not 
with  the  Vandals  that  I carry  on  war,  nor  do  I 
break  the  peace  agreed  upon  with  Geiseric.  Our 
purpose  is  merely  to  overthrow  your  tyrant,  who 
has  violated  justice  and  thrown  your  lawful  king 
into  fetters.  Help  us  therefore.  Shake  off  the 
yoke  of  this  base  tyranny,  that  you  may  enjoy  the 
freedom  and  prosperity  we  bring  you.  Of  the 
truth  of  this,  God  is  our  witness/' 


268 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


XXVII. 

MANY  days’  march  westward  from  the  road 
along  which  the  Byzantines  were  advancing  upon 
Carthage,  and  a considerable  distance  to  the  south 
of  the  Aurasian  Mountains,  the  extreme  limit  of 
Vandal  authority  in  Africa,  lay  a small  oasis  in 
the  vast  sand-desert  which  stretched  away  into 
the  unexplored  interior  of  the  continent. 

A well  of  drinkable  water,  around  it  in  a circle 
some  date-palms,  under  their  shade  a growth  of 
coarse,  salt-saturated,  steppe-like  grass,  the  wel- 
come food  of  the  easily  satisfied  camels, — that 
was  all. 

Beyond  the  oasis  the  desert  extended  in  all 
directions  in  a monotonous  plain,  broken  only 
where  the  wind  had  heaped  together  wave-like 
ridges  of  loose,  yellow,  burning  sand.  As  far  as 
the  eye  could  sweep,  even  when  the  midday  glare 
was  brightest,  it  found  nothing  to  rest  upon,  until, 
wearied  with  the  effort,  it  sank  back  for  relief 
upon  the  little  clump  of  trees  around  the  lonely 
well. 

Now,  however,  it  was  night.  And  wonderful, 
indescribably  impressive,  was  this  silent  solitude 
when  over  the  whole  wide-arching  heavens  the 
countless  host  of  the  stars  appeared,  shining  with 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 269 

a brilliancy  which  they  display  only  to  the  sons 
of  the  desert. 

It  is  easy  to  comprehend  how  these  Moors  have 
always  associated  whatever  is  divine  with  the 
stars.  They -worship  in  these  the  mild  and  be- 
neficent powers  of  nature  in  contrast  to  the  heat 
and  storms  of  the  desert.  In  the  movements, 
position,  and  appearance  of  the  stars  they  seek 
the  will  of  the  gods  and  their  own  future. 

Some  nomad  Moors  had  pitched  their  low  tents 
of  goat-skin,  perhaps  half  a dozen  in  number,  be- 
side the  well.  The  faithful  camels,  carefully 
tethered  by  the  feet  and  protected  by  coverings 
against  the  sting  of  the  camel-fly,  lay  stretched 
out  in  the  deep  sand  with  their  long  necks  thrust 
forward.  In  the  midst  of  the  little  camp  the 
noble-blooded  coursers,  the  battle-steeds  and  the 
milch  mares  were  placed  in  an  enclosure,  formed  by 
stretching  ropes  between  lances  thrust  into  the 
ground.  Above  the  rounded  top  of  one  of  the 
tents  rose- a long  spear,  from  which  a lion's  skin 
hung  down.  This  was  the  tent  of  the  chief. 

The  night-wind,  which  blew  fresh  from  the 
northeast,  from  the  distant  sea,  tossed  about  the 
fluttering  mane  of  the  dead  monarch  of  the  waste, 
and,  now  lifting  the  skin  of  one  of  the  huge  paws, 
now  the  bushy  end  of  the  tail,  cast  grotesque 
shadows  upon  the  starlit  sandf 


270  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

A deep,  solemn  silence  prevailed.  All  that  was 
living  seemed  to  be  buried  in  sleep,  save  where, 
at  an  arrow’s  flight  on  each  side  of  the  tents, 
four  great  fires  burned,  kindled  to  keep  off  the 
night-prowling  beasts  of  prey.  From  these  fires 
came  at  long  intervals  the  monosyllabic  calls  of 
the  guards,  who  by  this  means  kept  themselves 
awake  and  warned  their  comrades  to  be  watchful. 
For  a long,  long  time  this  deep,  solemn  stillness 
continued.  At  length  a couple  of  horses  whin- 
nied, the  clang  of  a weapon  was  heard  in  the 
direction  of  one  of  the  fires,  and  a moment  after- 
wards a light,  scarcely  audible  step  advanced 
towards  the  midst  of  the  encampment,  to  the 
“ lion’s  tent.” 

Suddenly  the  step  was  checked,  and  a slender, 
youthful  man  stooped  down  before  the  entrance. 
“What?  You  are  lying  outside,  before  the  tent, 
grandfather?”  the  astonished  youth  asked.  “?Have 
you  been  asleep  ?” 

“ I have  been  awake,”  was  the  low  answer. 

I should  really  have  ventured  to  wake  you. 
A frightful  portent  has  appeared  in  the  sky.  I 
saw  it  rise  as  I kept  watch  at  the  eastern  fire. 
Just  relieved,  I hasten  to  you.  The  gods  above 
send  us  warning ; but  the  young  man  does  not 
understand  their  signs.  You,  O grandfather,  are 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  27 1 

wise.  Look  there,  to  the  right — to  the  right  of 
the  last  palm-tree  ! Do  you  not  see  it  ?” 

“ I saw  it  long  ago.  I have  been  expecting  this 
sign  for  many  nights — yes,  for  years.” 

A feeling  of  awe  came  over  the  youth.  With 
a slight  shudder  he  said  : “ For  years!  You  knew, 
then,  what  would  happen  in  the  sky?  You  are 
very  wise,  O Cabaon !” 

“ Not  I.  My  grandfather  handed  down  the 
knowledge  to  my  father,  and  he  to  me.  It  was 
more  than  a hundred  years  ago.  It  was  when  the 
pale-faced  strangers  came  from  the  north,  in  many 
ships,  across  the  sea,  led  by  that  terrible  king,  with 
whose  name  even  to-day  our  women  silence  their 
refractory  children.” 

“ Geiseric!”  muttered  the  youth  in  a low  voice, 
full,  however,  of  hate  and  horror. 

“ At  that  time,  from  the  same  quarter  as  their 
ships,  a terrible  prodigy  appeared  in  the  heavens. 
It  was  blood-fed,  and  in  shape  like  a hundred- 
lashed  scourge,  swung  threateningly  over  our  land 
and  people. 

“And  my  grandfather,  after  he  had  seen  the 
fearful  warrior-king  in  the  harbor  of  Isocium, 
spoke  to  my  father  and  our  tribe:  ‘Untether  the 
camels!  Bridle  our  horses  and  away!  To  the 
south!  To  the  glowing  bosom  of  our  protecting 


2*J2  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

mother ! It  was  this  king  of  battles  and  his  war- 
delighting people  that  the  fiery  star  announced. 
For  many  years,  for  many  decades,  all  are  lost  who  ' 
attempt  to  oppose  him.  The  armies  of  Rome, 
the  ships  of  Byzantium,  will  be  swept  away  by  these 
giants  from  the  north,  like  the  clouds  which  come 
in  the  way  of  the  fiery  star/  And  so  it  happened. 
The  sons  of  our  race,  although  they  would  gladly 
have  shot  their  long  arrows  against  the  blond 
giants,  followed  the  advice  of  the  old  man,  and 
we  escaped  into  the  protecting  desert. 

“ Bonifacius — that  was  the  name  of  the  Roman 
general — was  utterly  defeated.  My  ancestor  had 
announced  it  beforehand  in  the  prophetic  speech : 

1 G.  will  destroy  B.  But/  he  added,  4 the  time 
will  come,  more  than  a hundred  years  from  now, 
when  a starry  portent  will  rise  in  the  east,  and 
then  B.  will  overthrow  G/ 

“ Other  branches  of  our  people,  when,  by  the 
side  of  the  imperial  troops,  they  attempted  to  re- 
pel the  invaders,  were,  like  the  Romans,  cut  down 
by  Geiseric,  that  son  of  darkness.  And  when, 
howling  and  lamenting  for  their  dead,  they  came  to 
our  tents  and  summoned  us  to  a war  of  vengeance, 
then  my  grandfather  and  afterwards  my  father 
refused  them  and  said  : 4 Not  yet ; they  cannot 
now  be  conquered.  Several  generations  of  men 


THE  LAST  \ OF  THE  VANDALS . 


^73 


will  pass  away,  and  no  one  will  be  able  to  stand 
before  these  giants  from  the^land  of  darkness, 
neither  the  Romans  by  sea  nor  the  sons  of  the 
desert.  But  they  will  not  endure  in  the  land  of 
the  sun,  these  children  of  the  north  ! Many  a 
warrior-race,  more  powerful  than  we,  has  come  be- 
fore them  into  our  motherland  to  conquer  and  rule 
over  us.  They  have,  indeed,  conquered  us,  but 
not  this  land,  this  sun,  these  deserts.  Sand  and 
sun  and  luxurious  indolence  have  taken  from  the 
strangers  the  strength  of  their  arms  and  the 
energy  of  their  will.  So  it  will  happen  to  these 
tall,  blue-eyed  giants.  The  strength  will  be  lured 
away  from  their  muscular  bodies,  and  the  desire 
for  battle  from  their  hearts.  And  then — then,  at 
length,  we  shall  wrest  from  them  the  inheritance 
left  us  by  our  fathers  ! Thus  it  was  prophesied 
and  thus  it  has  happened. 

“For  many  years  our  archers  and  spearmen 
could  not  stand  before  the  fierce  enemy ; but 
more  recently  we  have  often  driven  them  back, 
when  they  penetrated  into  the  sacred  desert. 

“ ‘ Whenever  a similar  star  appears/  my  ances> 
tor  predicted,  ‘ then  the  time  allotted  to  these 
strangers  has  expired.  Observe  carefully  from 
what  quarter  another  star  with  a fiery  train,  like  a 
scourge,  shall  appear — for  from  there  will  come 


f 


274  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

the  enemy  that  will  crush  the  yellow-haired  race.’ 
The  star  to-night  has  risen  from  the  east — from 
the  east  approaches  the  conqueror  of  Geiseric’s 
people. 

“ It  is  true  we  have  news  that  the  emperor  is 
bringing  war  upon  the  Vandals,  that  his  army  has 
already  landed  in  the  distant  east.  But  it  does 
not  coincide — the  other  sign.  G,  no  doubt,  means 
Gelimer,  the  blond-haired  king.  But  J,  Justin- 
ian, is  the  name  of  the  emperor  of  Byzantium. 
Tell  me,  have  you  heard  who  is  the  general  in 
command  of  the  Romans  ?” 

“ Belisarius.” 

The  old  man  sprang  up.  “And  B will  con- 
quer G — Belisarius  will  overthrow  Gelimer.  See 
how  blood-red  the  scourge-like  star  is  glowing! 
That  betokens  the  blood  of  battle.  But  we,  son 
of  my  son,  we  will  take  no  part  when  the  By- 
zantine spear  and  the  Vandal  sword  are  arrayed 
against  each  other.  The  combat  may  easily  ex- 
tend as  far  as  the  Auras  mountains;  we  will  with-  - 
draw  deeper  into  the  desert.  Let  the  foreigners 
rage  against  each  other  ; let  the  one  destroy  the 
other.  For  the  Byzantine  eagles  also  will  not 
long  build  their  eyries  here.  The  star  of  disaster 
will  rise  for  them,  just  as  it  does  now  for  the 
Vandals.  The  invaders  come — and  pass  away. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

We,  the  sons  of  the  land,  endure.  Like  the  sand 
of  our  desert  we  are  driven  before  the  wind  ; but 
we  do  not  perish.  And  as  the  sand  sweeps  over 
and  covers  the  stately  stone  buildings  of  our  in- 
vaders, so  we,  always  returning,  overwhelm  the 
foreign  life  which  has  intruded  itself  into  our 
land,  where  it  can  never  thrive.” 

“ But  the  fair-skinned  king  has  enlisted  more 
than  ten  thousand  of  our  people  for  the  war.  What 
are  these  to  do?  ” 

“ Send  back  his  gold.  Abandon  the  heaven- 
abandoned  army  of  the  Vandals.  Let  messsen- 
gers  ride  to-morrow  to  all  our  tribes  with  this 
command  wherever  I command,  with  this  advice 
where  I can  only  advise.” 

“ Your  advice  is  law  as  far  as  the  sand  of  the 
desert  stretches.  Yet  I am  sorry  for  the  man 
with  the  mournful  eyes.  He  has  shown  kindness 
to  many  of  our  people,  has  been  the  guest  of 
many  of  our  tribes,  has  himself  extended  hospital- 
ity to  them.  How  are  these  to  act  towards 
their  friend  and  guest?” 

“ Extend  hospitality  even  unto  death.  Not 
fight  his  battles,  not  share  his  booty.  But  if  he 
comes  to  them  for  refuge  and  protection — share 
the  last  date  with  him,  pour  out  the  last  drop  of 
blood  in  his  defence.  Up,  strike  upon  the  kettle  ! 


276  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

We  break  camp  before  the  sun  awakes.  Un- 
tether the  camels.’’  And  the  old  man  sprang 
nimbly  to  his  feet. 

The  youth  struck  a blow  with  his  sword  upon 
a large  copper  kettle  which  hung  before  the  en- 
trance to  the  tent.  Scarcely  had  the  sound  ceased 
when  the  brown-complexioned  men,  women,  and 
children  began  swarming  forth  confusedly,  like 
a heap  of  disturbed  ants. 

When  the  sun  rose  above  the  horizon  the  oasis 
•was  deserted,  solitary,  as  still  as  death  itself. 

But  far  off  to  the  south  a cloud  of  dust  and 
■sand  was  visible,  which  the  north  wind  seemed  to 
drive  steadily  onward  farther  into  the  depths  of 
the  desert. 

XXVIII. 

TO  CETHEGUS  FROM  PROCOPIUS. 

Our  advance  continues.  And  just  as  if  we 
were  in  a friendly  country.  Our  heroes,  even,  the 
Huns,  at  last  comprehend  this,— thanks  less  to  my 
military  decree  than  to  their  personal  experience 
that  they  cannot,  even  with  the  best  intentions, 
obtain  as  abundant  supplies  by  plundering,  as  the 
people  voluntarily  bring  in,  provided  the  peasants 
are  paid,  and  not  robbed.  Belisarius  is  winning 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  277 

the  hearts  of  all  the  provincials  by  his  affability 
and  kindness.  So  the  colonists  stream  from  all 
sides  to  our  camps,  which  we  carefully  fortify 
whenever  we  have  occasion  to  pass  the  night  on 
the  open  plain.  And  the  people  sell  us,  at  a rea- 
sonable price,  all  that  we  need. 

Whenever  it  is  possible,  of  course,  we  take  up 
our  quarters  for  the  night  in  cities,  such  as  Leptis 
and  Adrumetum.  The  bishop  with  the  Catholic 
clergy  comes  to  meet  us  as  soon  as  our  Hunnish 
riders  appear  in  sight.  The  “ senators”  and  the 
most  distinguished  citizens  soon  follow.  These, 
however,  prefer  to  make  a pretence  of  suffering 
compulsion.  That  is  to  say,  they  wait  until  we 
stand  in  their  forum,  in  order  that,  in  case  we 
should  all  even  yet  be  pitched  into  the  sea  by  our 
invisible  enemy  before  we  reach  Carthage,  they 
can  point  to  our  irresistible  force  as  an  excuse  for 
their  friendliness  towards  us. 

With  the  exception  of  a few  Catholic  priests,  1 
have  not  yet  met  a single  Roman  in  Africa  for 
whom  I have  a particle  of  respect.  To  my  no- 
tion, the  “ delivered”  are  even  poorer  specimens 
of  humanity  than  we,  the  “ deliverers.” 


Every  day  in  our  progress  we  leave  behind  us 
ten  thousand  paces — ten  miles. 


27 8 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

To-day  we  came  from  Adrumetum,  by  way  of 
Horrea  to  Grasse,— still  about  forty-four  Roman 
miles  from  Carthage, — an  ideal  place  for  a camp  ! 
Our  astonishment  increases  from  day  to  day,  the 
more  we  become  familiar  with  the  luxuriance  of 
this  province  of  Africa.  It  surpasses  all  descrip- 
tion, all  expectation.  Truly,  under  this  sky,  and 
amid  these  surroundings,  not  to  become  indolent 
is  a thing  that  almost  transcends  human  power. 

And  this  Grasse!  Here  is  a country-seat,  prop- 
erly speaking,  a stately,  pillared  marble  palace  of 
the  Vandal  king,  surrounded  by  pleasure-gardens, 
the  like  of  which  I have  never  beheld  in  Europe 
or  Asia. 

All  around  us  gush  forth  fountains  of  delicious 
water,  brought  from  a distance  by  gracefully  built 
conduits,  or  conjured  by  some  magic  art  from 
the  depths  of  the  arid  sand.  And  what  an  abun- 
dance of  trees ! Among  them  not  one  whose 
branches  are  not  bent  down  by  the  weight  of  its 
superb  fruit.  Our  whole  army  is  encamped  in 
this  fruit-bearing  grove,  under  these  beneficent 
trees;  every  soldier  satisfies  himself  to  the  full, 
and  every  one  has  filled  his  leather  knapsack, — 
for  early  to-morrow  we  resume  our  march, — and 
yet  the  supply  is  not  half  exhausted. 

What  a wealth,  too,  of  vines,  and  all  of  them 
loaded  with  magnificent  grapes  1 


THE  LAST  OF  THE * VANDALS.  279 

For  many  centuries  before  Scipio  entered  this 
land  as  a conqueror,  here,  between  the  desert  and 
the  sea,  the  industrious  Phoenicians  trained  on 
short  stakes  their  carefully  pruned  vines.  * Here 
to-day  grows  the  best  wine  in  all  Africa ; the  Van- 
dals are  said  to  drink  it  unmixed  in  great  draughts 
from  their  helmets.  I only  sipped  a little  of  the 
blackish-red  liquor,  which  Agnellus  had  reduced 
one  half  in  strength  for  me  with  water,  and  yet  I 
feel  sleepy.  I think  I will  not  write  much  more 
to-night. 

Sleep  well,  Cethegus,  in  your  distant  Rome  ! 

Sleep  well,  my  comrades  in  arms ! 

Just  half  a cupful  more  before  I retire  ; it  really 
is  exceedingly  good. 

Sleep  well — the  wine  makes  me  feel  kind- 
hearted  ! Sleep  well,  you  also,  barbarians  ! 

How  comfortable  it  is  here ! The  slaves,  all  of 
whom  are  Romans  and  Catholics,  have  not  fled 
from  us,  and  they  serve  us  with  most  zealous  at- 
tention. This  room  which  has  been  assigned  to 
me  is  very  handsomely  adorned  with  wall-paint- 
ings. The  bed  is  as  soft^apd  inviting  as  one  could 
wish  for.  From  the  sea  comes  a cool,  refreshing 
breeze  through  the  open  windows. 

I think  I may  venture  upon  a quarter  of  a cup 
more,  but  that  must  be  the  last.  And  to-night, 


28o  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

my  dear  barbarians,  refrain,  if  possible,  from  any 

attack.  Sleep  soundly,  Vandals,  I pray,  that  I 

too  may  have  a sweet  sleep  ! I almost  believe 

that  I am  already  in  the  grasp  of  that  African 

% 

malady — distaste  for  every  exertion. 

It  is  four  days  since  we  left  the  wonderful  gar- 
dens at  Grasse.  We  pass  to-night  in  the  open 
country.  To-morrow  we  shall  reach  Decimum, 
only  nine  Roman  miles  from  Carthage,  and  as  yet 
we  have  not  seen  a single  Vandal. 

It  is  late  in  the  evening.  Far  and  wide  glow 
the  lights  of  our  camp-fires — a beautiful  sight. 
But  I cannot  rid  myself  of  the  feeling  that  there 
is  something  ominous  in  this  soft,  dark  air.  There 
go  the  shrill  horns  of  our  Huns ! They  keep 
guard  on  all  three  sides.  On  the  right,  towards 
the  northeast,  the  sea  and  our  fleet  cover  us. 
To  morrow,  however,  the  ships  cannot,  as  hitherto, 
accompany  our  advance,  on  account  of  the  rocks 
which  extend  far  out  from  the  shore,  off  the 
promontory  of  Mercury.  These  the  ships  will 
have  to  sail  around.  Belisarius  has  commanded 
the  Quaestor  Archelaos,  who  is  in  charge  of  the 
fleet,  not  to  venture  himself  to  Carthage,  but  after 
circumnavigating  the  promontory,  to  cast  anchor 
and  await  further  orders. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA JVHALS. 


28l 


Since  therefore,  to-morrow,  for  the  first  time, 
we  must  push  forward  without  the  protection  of 
our  faithful  companions,  the  ships,  and  the  road 
before  reaching  Decimum  is  said  to  pass  through 
some  rough  and  dangerous  places,  Belisarius  has 
arranged  the  order  of  march  carefully  in  advance, 
and  has  given  it  in  writing  this  evening  to  all  the 
leaders,  to  save  time  when  we  break  camp  in  the 
morning. 

The  trumpet  wakes  the  sleeper  with  its  war- 
like blast.  Our  ranks  are  forming.  I see  an 
eagle  flying  from  the  west,  out  of  the  desert,  over 
our  camp. 

It  is  reported  that  last  night,  on  our  extreme 
outposts  in  the  west,  the  first  conflict  took  place 
with  a couple  of  the  enemy's  horsemen  ; that  one 
of  our  Huns  was  killed,  and  one  of  the  captains*, 
Bleda,  is  missing.  But  I could  not  learn  anything 
definite.  Probably  it  is  merely  a camp  rumor, 
such  as  impatience  and  imagination  have  hatched 
out  several  times  before. 

To-night,  then,  we  will  be  in  Decimum ; to-mor- 
row night  before  the  gates  of  Carthage ; — and, 
where,  are  the  Vandals  ? 


282 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS , 


XXIX. 

WHEN  Procopius  wrote  the  above  lines,,  the 
Vandals  were  nearer  to  him  than  he  supposed. 

As  the  first  beams  of  the  morning  sun  rose 
above  the  sea,  gleamed  from  its  waves,  and  fell 
upon  the  yellowish-brown  sand  on  the  verge  of 
the  desert,  a dozen  Vandal  horsemen  dashed  at 
full  gallop  into  the  camp  of  King  Gelimer,  about 
two  hours’  march  southwest  of  Decimum.  Giba- 
mund,  who  commanded  them,  and  the  young 
Ammata  sprang  from  their  horses. 

“ What  do  you  bring  ?”  asked  the  watch  at  the 
camp. 

“ Victory,”  replied  Ammata. 

“ And  a prisoner,”  added  Gibamund. 

They  hastened  to  wake  the  king.  But  they 
met  him,  in  full  armor,  just  coming  from  his  tent. 

“ You  are  splashed  with  blood — both— you  too, 
Ammata,  Are  you  wounded  ?”  he  said  in  a 
voice  that  quivered  with  anxiety. 

“ No,”  laughed  the  handsome  boy,  while  his 
eyes  flashed  with  pride.  “ It  is  the  blood  of  an 
enemy.” 

“ The  first  that  has  been  shed  in  this  war  stains 
your  innocent  hand,”  said  the  king,  solemnly. 
H Would  that  I had  not  consented—” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  283 

“ That  would  have  been  a pity,”  interrupted 
Gibamund.'  “ Our  boy  deserves  much  credit  for 
his  conduct.  Go,  Ammata,  summon  Hilda  from 
my  tent  while  I make  my  report.  / 

“ Well,  then  ! We  have  long  endured  it  with 
impatience  that  you  keep  us  so  far  from  the  ene- 
my, accompanying  their  march  only  at  a distance, 
unseen  even  by  their  c?utposts.  When  you  grant- 
ed last  night  that  we  might  ride  nearer  to  their 
flank  than  hitherto,  to  find  out  whether  they  really, 
uncovered  by  their  fleet,  will  march  to-day  to 
Decimum  and,  consequently,  towards  midday,  pass 
through  the  narrow  road,  you  said  that  if,  without 
toe  much  noise,  we  could  bring  in  a captive  to 
answer  your  questions,  it  would  be  desirable. 

“Well,  we  have  not  only  a captive,  we  have 
something  more.  We  found  on  him  a most  im- 
portant piece  of  parchment.  And  that  was  fortu- 
nate, for  the  man  refuses  to  give  any  informa- 
tion. See,  they  are  bringing  him  here ! And 
yonder  come  Thrasaric  and  Eugenia.  And  there 
is  Ammata  already  leading  Hilda  by  the  hand.” 

“ Welcome  !”  cried  the  young  wife  to  her  hus- 
band, but  with  a blush  she  declined  his  embrace'. 
Already  the  prisoner  stood  before  the  king,  his 

hands  bound  behind  his  back ; from  under  his 
9 

bushy  eyebrows  he  cast  sullen  looks  upon  the 


284  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

Vandals — especially  upon  Ammata.  From  his 
left  cheek  the  blood  trickled  down  upon  the  white 
sheep-skin  that  covered  his  shoulders.  His  un- 
dergarment, which  was  of  untanned  leather,  reach- 
ed down  to  his  knees,  his  feet  were  bare,  but 
buckled  to  his  right  heel  was  a strap  to  which  a 
large  spur  was  attached.  Four  ornamental  golden 
plates,  presented  by  the*  emperor  and  his  generals 
as  testimonials  of  valiant  deeds,  hung  from  a 
breastplate  fashioned  from  leather  of  extraordi- 
nary thickness. 

“ We  rode  forth  from  the  camp  towards  the 
north,  accompanied  only  by  ten  Vandals  and  two 
Moors,  in  the  direction  of  the  light  given  by  the 
hostile  camp-fires,  and  carefully  concealing  our- 
selves behind  the  long  sand-hills,  which  the  ever- 
busy  wind  of  the  desert,  now  heaping  up  and  now 
blowing  away,  continually  forms,  especially  along 
the  border.  Under  this  cover  we  worked  ourway^ 
to  the  east  until  we  perceived,  at  about  an  arrow’s 
flight  from  us,  four  horsemen  beside  a watch-fire, 
kindled  probably  to  frighten  away  the  wild  beasts. 
Two  of  them  sat  perched  upon  their  little  horses, 
gazing  sharply  towards  the  southwest,. whence  we 
had  come,  theiNbows  ready  in  their  hands.  The 
other  two  had  dismounted  and  stood  leaning  each 
against  the  shoulder  of  his  horse  ; the  points  of 
their  spears  sparkled  in  the  fitful  firelight. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  285 

“ I motioned  to  the  two  Moors,  whom  I hadi 
taken  with  me  for  this  very  artifice.  They  slipped 
noiselessly  from  their  horses,  threw  themselves 
flat  upon  the  ground,  and  crept  in  the  darkness,, 
on  all-fours,  in  a wide  circuit,  one  to  the  right  and 
the  other  |jpH:he  left,  around  the  fire  and  the' 
watch,  until  they  stood  to  the  northwest  and  the: 
northeast  of  these. 

“ Soon  we  heard  to  the  north  of  the  watch-fire 
the  hoarse,  savage  cry  of  the  prey-scenting  leop- 
ardess which  has  set  out  by  night  with  her  young 
in  search  of  food.  The  cry  of  the  old  leopard 
was  answered  by  the  eager,  hungry  response  of  her 
whelp.  The  horses  of  the  watch  started  with 
terror,  their  manes  bristled.  Nearer  came  the 
C£y  of  the  leopardess ; then  all  the  four  men — 
doubtless  they  had  never  heard  such  a thing  be- 
fore— turned  in  the  direction  of  the  sound.  One 
of  the  horses  reared  violently;  his  rider  clung 
desperately  to  his  mane.  The  second  horseman 
endeavored  to  help  his  comrade,  and  seized  the 
bridle  of  the  frightened  horse,  but,  in  so  doing, 
his  bow  slipped  from  his  hand.  Taking  advantage 
of  this  moment  of  confusion,  we  sprang  forward 
from  behind  the  sand-hill.  We  had  muffled  the 
hoofs  of  the  horses  with  cloths,  and  we  rode  up 
almost  to  the  fire  before  we  were  noticed.  Then 


286 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


one  of  the  mounted  men  perceived  us,  shouted, 

‘ Enemies!  ’ and  dashed  away.  The  other  horse- 
man followed  him.  The  third  I ran  through  with 
my  sword,  just  as  he  was  in  the  act  of  mounting. 
But  the  fourth — this  one  here,  tl^Jeader — in  an 
instant  was  on  the  back  of  his  steed,  knocking 
down  the  two  Moors,  who  attempted  to  bar  the 
way,  and  would  have  escaped,  had  not  Ammata, 
our  boy — ” 

He  pointed  to  the  lad,  while  the  prisoner 
gnashed  his  teeth  with  anger. 

“ Shot  after  him,  like  an  arrow,  on  his  white 
pony — ” 

“ On  Pegasus,”  cried  Ammata.  “You  remem- 
ber, brother,  you  brought  him  to  me  from  the  last 
Moorish  war.  He  really  speeds  along  as  if  he  fiad 
wings.” 

“ Overtook  him,  and  before  any  of  us  could 
hasten  to  his  assistance,  with  a quick  double 
stroke — ” 

“You,  Gelimer,  taught  it  to  me,”  shouted  the 
exultant  Ammata,  who  could  no  longer  restrain 
himself. 

“ — of  his  sword  beat  aside  the  enemy's  long 
spear,  and  at  once  gave  him  a slashing  cut  across 
the  cheek.  Stifling  his  pain,  the  sturdy  fellow 
dropped  his  spear  and  attempted  to  draw  the  bat- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 287 

tle-axe  from  his  belt.  Then  Ammata  threw  the 
noose  around  his  neck — ” 

“ You  know — the  antelope-cast !”  cried  the  boy 
to  Gelimer. 

“ — and  with  a jerk  pulled  him  from  his  horse.” 

Gibamund  had  ' related  this  in  the  Vandal 
tongue.  But  the  prisoner  understood  it  all  from 
the  accompanying  gestures,  and  now  he  shouted, 
in  the  mongrel  Latin  of  the  camp  : “ May  the 
soul  of  my  father  pass  into»a  dog,  if  I do  not, Lave 
revenge  for  this  ! Me,  the  child  of  Attila’s  great- 
grandson  ! A boy  pulls  me  with  a noose  from 
my  horse ! They  catch  beasts  that  way,  not  sol- 
diers 1” 

“ Cool  down,  my  little  friend,”  said  Thrasaric, 
stepping  up  to  him.  “ There  is  an  old  saying  cur- 
rent among  all  the  Gothic  peoples : < Spare 
rather  the  wolf  than  the  Hun/  Besides,  it  is  thus 
that  royal  bird,  the  ostrich,  is  captured,  provided 
any  one  can  overtake  him.  So,  you  see,  it  is  no 
disgrace  for  you.”  And,  laughing,  he  adjusted 
his  heavy  helmet  with  its  bear’s-head  decoration. 

“We  now  came  up,”  concluded  Gibamund, 
“bound  the  man,  who  defended  himself  like  a 
wild-boar,  and  tore  from,  between  his  teeth  this 
piece  of  parchment,  which  he  was  attempting  to 
swallow/ ’ 


288 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


The  prisoner  groaned. 

“Your  name?”  asked  the  king,  glancing  over 
the  parchment. 

“ Bleda.” 

“ What  is  your  general’s  strength  in  horsemen  ?” 

“Go  and  count  them.” 

“ My  Hunnish  friend/’  said  Thrasaric  threaten- 
ingly, “a  king  is  addressing  you.  Be  polite,  you 
wolf’s  cub.  Answer  properly  the"  questions  put 
to  you,  or — ” 

Defiantly  the  captive  took  a step  forward 
towards  Gelimer,-  and  spoke  : “ This  golden  disk 
our  great  commander  gave  me  with  his  own  hand 
after  our  third  victory  over  the  Persians.  Do  you 
think  I will  betray  Belisarius?” 

“ Lead  him  away,”  said  Gelimer.  “ Bind  up 
his  wounds.  See  that  he  has  good  care.” 

Once  again  the  Hun  cast  a look  of  deadly  hate 
upon  Ammata,  and  then  passed  out  with  his 
guards. 

Gelimer  read  again  the  writing  on  the  parch- 
ment; then,  turning  . to  his  young  brother,  said  : 
“It  is  no  slight  thanks  I owe  you,  my  boy.  What 
you  have  brought  us  is  the  enemy’s  order  of  march 
for  to-day.  Follow  me,  my  captains,  to  my  tent ; 
there  you  shall  hear  my  plan  of  attack.  We  need 
not  wait  the  coming  up  of  the  Moors.  I think,  i ( 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  289 

the  Lord  our  God  is  not  angry  with  us — but  no 
sinful  boasting!  O Ammata,  how  glad  I am  to 
have  you  back  alive  ! After  you  had  ridden  forth 
I had  a bloody  dream  about  you.  God  has  re- 
stored you  to  me  this  once — I will  not  venture  to 
try  his  forbearance  a second  time.”  He  stepped 
up  close  to  Ammata  and,  laying  his  hand  upon 
the  boy’s  shoulder,  spoke  in  a positive  tone : 
“ Hear  me : I forbid  you  to  take  part  in  the  bat- 
tle to-day.” 

“ What?”  cried  Ammata  vehemently,  while  the 
blood  forsook  his  face.  “That  is  not  possible! 
Gelimer— I beseech — ” 

“ Be  still,”  commanded  the  king,  furrowing  his 
brow,  “and  obey.” 

“ I should  think,”  interposed  Gibamund,  “ you 
might  grant  him  permission.  He  has  shown — ” 

“O  brother,  brother!”  Ammata  exclaimed, 
while  the  tears  gathered  in  his  eyes,  “ how  have  I 
deserved  this  punishment?” 

“ Is  that  his  reward  for  his  exploit  last  night?” 
expostulated  Thrasaric. 

“ Be  silent,  all  of  you,”  Gelimer  commanded 
sternly.  “ My  resolution  is  fixed.  He  shall  not 
fight.  He  is  still  only  a boy.” 

Ammata  stamped  his  foot  angrily. 

“ And  oh,  my  darling,”  added  Gelimer,  clasping 


* 

29O  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, , 

the  resisting  boy  in  his  arms,  “let  me  confess  it* 
— so  tenderly  I love,  that  my  anxiety  about  you 
would  not  leave  me  for  a moment  even  in  the 
midst  of  the  battle.  And  I need  all  my  thoughts 
for  the  enemy.” 

“ Then  let  me  fight  at  your  side,  where  you  can 
yourself  protect  me.” 

“ I dare  not.  I must  not  think  about  you.  I 
must  give  all  my  attention  to  Belisarius.”- 

“Truly,”  said  Hilda,  excitedly,  “from  my  soul 
I am  sorry  for  Ammata.  I am  a woman,  and  it 
is  hard  enough  for  me  not  to  follow  you  to  the 
combat.  But  a boy,  and  fifteen  years  old  too !” 
Here  Eugenia,  laying  her  hand  on  the  speaker’s 
robe,  gently  sought  to  pull  her  back;  but  Hilda, 
drawing  the  boy  to  her  and  stroking  with  her  hand 
his  wavy  blond  hair,  continued  : “ But  it  is  a duty. 
It  is  heroic  duty  that  every  man  who  can — and 
especially  a prince  of  the  royal  line— shall  fight 
for  his  country.  And  this  one  can — he  has  proved 
it.  Do  not  withhold  him  from  his  people.  My 
grandfather  taught  me  : ‘ He  only  falls  who  is 
destined  to  fall.’  ” 

“ Sinful  heathenism  !”  exclaimed  the  king  an- 

g«iy-  x 

“ Well,  then,  let  me  speak  to  you  as  a Christian. 
Is  this  your  trust  in  God,  Gelimer?  Where  is 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  29! 

there  another  in  both  armies  as  innocent  as  this 
child  ? O king,  I am  not,  I admit,  so  religious  as 
you  ; but  I have  confidence  enough  in  the  God  of 
heaven  to  believe  that  he  will  protect  this  youth 
while  battling  in  our  just  cause.  Yes,  more,  if 
this  noblest  and  purest  offspring  of  the  Asdings 
should  perish,  it  would  be  to  me  like  a judgment 
of  God  that  we  are  really  outcasts  from  his  pres- 
ence.” 

“ Hold  !”  cried  the  king,  bitterly.  “ Do  not  tear 
open  the  deepest  wounds  of  my  soul.  If  he  should 
fall?  If  really  a judgment  of  God,  such  as  you 
speak  of,  should  be  executed  so  terribly  against 
us  ? It  is  true  he  is  guiltless,  so  far  as  a mortal 
can  be.  But  have  you  forgotten  the  fearful  threat 
about  the  iniquities  of  the  parents?  If  I should 
live  to  see  that,  I believe  I should  despair ; for  I 
should  recognize  the  fulfilment  of  the  avenging 
curse/’  And  with  gloomy  brow  and  folded  arms 
he  paced  nervously  back  and  forth. 

Here  Gibamund  whispered  to  his  wife,  who  in- 
dignantly shook  her  head,  but  made  no  reply. 
“ Let  him  have  his  way.  Such  cares  in  the  mind 
of  the  commander-in-chief  will  injure  more  than 
the  spears  of  twenty  boys  could  help  us.” 

“ But,”  Ammata  exclaimed  defiantly,  “arrows 
fly  far.  If  I,  like  a miserable  coward,  hide  behind 


2g2  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HjDALS. 

our  ranks,  even  here  in  the  camp,  if  the  enemy 
should  conquer,  I might  fall ; although  I certainly 
should  never  become  a captive,”  he  added  haugh- 
tily, clutching  his  dagger  and  tossing  back  his 
head  so  that  his  blond  locks  brushed  across  the 
light-blue  armor  that  protected  his  shoulders. 
“ Better  shut  me  up  at  once  in  a church — -a  Cath- 
olic one,  by  all  means ! That  would  be  a perfect 
asylum.” 

“ I shall  indeed  imprison  you,  you  unruly  boy,” 
said  Gelimer,  sharply.  “As  a punishment  for  this 
insolent  mockery,  give  up  your  arms  at  once.  At 
once,  I say!  Take  them  from  him,  Thrasaric. — 
You,  Thrasaric,  will  attack  the  enemy  in  front, 
from  Decimum.  In  Decimum  there  is  a Catholic 
church ; the  Byzantines  will  hold  it  inviolable. 
During  the  battle  keep  as  a prisoner  there  this 
boy,  who  wants  to  be  a soldier  and  has  not  yet 
learned  to  obey  his  king.  In  case  of  retreat  take 
him  with  you.  And  hear  me,  Thrasaric : you 
promised  that  night,  in  the  grove,  to  atone  for 
the  past — ” 

“ I think  he  has  done  it,”  cried  Hilda,  indig- 
nantly. 

“ Whose  squadrons,”  joined  in  Gibamund,  “are 
the  best  drilled?  Who  has  furnished  so  much 
gold,  so  many  horses  and  arms,  as  he  ?” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


293 


As  yet,  my  king,”  replied  Thrasaric,  “ I have 
done  nothing.  Give  me  to-day  an  opportunity — ” 
“ You  shall  have  it.  I rely  upon  you — especially 
that  you  do  not  through  your  impetuosity,  by  a 
too  early  attack,  ruin  my  entire  plan.  And  as 
for  this  troublesome  boy,”  he  said  tenderly,  “ I 
place  him  in  your  keeping.  Let  him  take  no  part 
in  the  battle,  and  bring  him  to  me  safe  and  unhurt 
after  the  victory,  upon  which  I surely  reckon.  I 
entrust  to  you  also  all  the  captives;  among  them 
the  hostages  from  Carthage,  for  in  case  of  a re- 
treat you  will  be  the  nearest  to  the  place  selected, — 
its  location  you  shall  soon  learn, — and  the  prisoners, 
therefore,  will  be  safest  hi  your  care.  I confide 
.to  you  Ammata,  my  most  precious  treasure,  be- 
cause— well,  because. you  are — my  valiant,  faithful 
Thrasaric.”  And  he  placed  both  his  hands  on  the 
broad,  Herculean  shoulders. 

“ King,”  said  the  stalwart  giant,  as  he  looked 
Gelimer  steadily  in  the  eye,  “ you  shall  have  him 
back  alive  and  uninjured,  or  you  shall  never  agai 
see  Thrasaric.” 

Eugenia  started. 

“ I thank  you  by  the  trust  I place  in  you.  Come 
now,  my  generals,  to  my  tent  to  hear  my  plan  of 

battle.” 


294 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


XXX. 

S ^ 

TO  CETHEGUS  FROM  PROCOPIUS. 

Well,  we  are  still  alive!  And  quartered  for 
the  night  in  Decimum ! 

But  we  all  came  very  near  passing  the  night  in 
a body  with  the  dog-fish  at  the  bottom  of  the 
Mediterranean.  Never,  says  Belisarius,  did  anni- 
hilation so  seriously  threaten  him. 

We  were  brought  for  a time  into  fearful  peril 
by  the  skilfully  devised  attack  of  this  incompre- 
hensible king.  And  then  when  the  attack  had 
fully  succeeded,  it  was  he,  the  king  himself,  who 
threw  away  his  victory  and  saved  us  from  certain 
destruction. 

I put  together  briefly  the  facts  concerning  these 
latest  occurrences,  combining  our  own  experience 
with  what  we  have  learned  from  the  inhabitants 
of  Decimum  and  the  captured  Vandals. 

Unknown  to  us,  the  king  had  accompanied  our 
march  ever  since  our  landing.  He  had  long  be- 
fore selected,  with  excellent  judgment,  the  place 
where  he  suddenly  fell  upon  us.  Belisarius  says 
that  not  even  his  great  rival,  Narses,  could  have 
planned  the  affair  more  skilfully. 

When  we  marched  from  our  last  camp  towards 
Decimum  we  had  to  do  without,  as  I told  you  be- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 2g$ 

fore,  the  protection  afforded  to  our  right  flank 
by  our  fleet.  If  now  an  overmastering  assault 
should  be  made  upon  us  from  the  west,,  it  would 
not  here  drive  us,  as  hitherto,  back  upon  our  sup- 
porting ships,  but  would  hurl  us  down  from  the 
road  leading  over  the  steep  sand-hills  along  the 
coast  headlong  into  the  sea. 

Before  reaching  Decimum — which  is  a small, 
open  place — the  road  becomes  exceedingly  nar- 
row. High  hills  stretch  from  the  southwest  close 
up  to  the  confined  passage-way.  Over  their 
masses  of  loose  sand,  blown  hither  from  the  des- 
ert, neither  man  nor  horse  can  pass  without  sink- 
ing a foot  deep  at  every  step.  Here  we  were  to 
be  simultaneously  attacked  from  three  sides,  and 
driven  into  the  sea  on  our  right. 

Gibamund,  a brother  of  the  king,  with  two 
thousand  men  was  to  fall  upon  our  left  flank  from 
the  west;  on  the  north  a Vandal  noble  with  a 
strong  force  was  to  attack  us  in  front  from  Deci- 
mum ; while  the  king  himself  was  to  hurl  his  main 
army  from  the  south  upon  our  rear. 

Belisarius  had  carefully  arranged  our  order  of 
march  for  this  dangerous  portion  of  the  way.  He 
sent  Fara  with  his  brave  Heruli  and  with  three 
hundred  picked  men  from  the  body-guard  two  and 
a half  Roman  miles  in  advance.  They  were  first 


296  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

to  traverse  by  themselves^the  narrow  pass,  and  at 
once  to  report  to  the  main  body,  which  Belisarius 
commanded,  any  danger.  The  Hunnish  riders 
were  sent  out  on  our  left  flank,  together  with  five 
thousand  excellent  Thracian  infantry,  under  their 
leader  Althias,  to  repel  every  attack  which  might 
be  threatened  from  that  quarter,  and  to  guard 
against  a surprise  of  the  main  army  during  the 
march. 

It  happened  to  our  great  good-fortune  that  the 
attack  from  the  north,  from  Decimum,  took  place 
much  too  soon. 

We  learn  from  prisoners  that  a younger  brother 
of  the  king,  almost  a boy,  taking  part  in  the  bat- 
tle contrary  to  Gelimer’s  express  command,  dashed 
forward  from  Decimum  with  a few  horsemen 
against  our  advancing  column  as  soon  as  it  came 
in  sight.  The  Vandal  noble  in  command,  wish- 
ing to  rescue  the  young  prince  at  every  cost,  made 
his  attack  upon  us,  with  the  small  force  he  had 
with  him,  at  least  four  hours  before  the  appointed 
time,  merely  sending  messengers  towards  Car- 
thage to  hurry  up  the  troops  advancing  to  his 
support. 

In  spite  of  the  overwhelming  numbers  that  as- 
sailed them,  the  youth  and  the  nobleman  made  a 
desperate  stand.  Twelve  of  the  bravest  of  Beli- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  29 7 

sarius’s  body-guard,  veterans  of  former  campaigns, 
were  slain  by  them.  At  length  they  both  fell. 
And  now,  deprived  of  their  leaders,  the  Vandal 
riders  turned  their  horses,  and,  dispersed  in  a 
senseless  flight,  ran  down  all  who  were  hurrying 
from  Carthage  to  their  assistance — for  the  most 
part  small  <3$iripanies  of  thirty  or  forty  men. 
Fara  and  his  bold  Heruli  started  after  them  in 
swift  pursuit,  putting  to  the  sword  all  whom  they 
overtook,  for  a distance  of  eight  miles,  almost  to 
the  very  gates  of  Carthage.  The  Vandals,  who 
had  fought  bravely  as  long  as  they  had  before 
their  eyes  the  example  of  the  young  Asding  and 
the  nobleman,  now  threw  away  their  arms  and 
suffered  themselves  to  be  slaughtered  almost 
without  resistance.  We  found  many  thousands 
of  their  dead  along  the  highway  and  scattered 
over  the  fields  to  the  left. 

After  this  first  attack  of  the  VandalsJhad  result- 
ed in  the  destruction  of  the  assailants,  Gibamund, 
apparently  without  any  knowledge  of  what  had 
happened,  charged  with  his  cavalry,  at  the  time 
appointed,  upon  the  greatly  superior  forces  of 
the  Huns  and  Thracians,  about  five  miles  west 
of  Decimum.  Without  help  from  Carthage  and 
Decimum  his  assault  necessarily  miscarried  ; al- 
most all  his  followers  were  killed,  and  their  leader 


2g8  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

was  seen  to  fall — no  one  knows  whether  living  or 
dead. 

In  the  mean  time,  ignorant  of  what  was  going 
On;  we  continued  advancing  with  the  main  body 
of  our  army  on  the  road  towards  Decimum. 
When  about  four  miles  from  the  town  Belisarius 
observed  a place  favorable  fora  cajjj^,  and  ordered 
the  army  to  halt.  He  knew,  of  course,  that  the 
enemy  must  be  in  the  vicinity,  and  the  disappear- 
ance of  the  two  Huns  in  the  night  had  made  him 
cautious. 

He  formed  a well-fortified  camp,  and  addressed 
the  assembled  army.  “The  enemy,”  he  said, 
“ must  be  near.  If  they  attack  us  here,  where  the 
fleet  cannot  assist  us,  our  only  safety  lies  in  vie* 
tory.  If  we  are  defeated,  there  is  no  fortress,  llo 
strong  city,  to  receive  us.  The  sea  that  roars  be* 
low  there  will  devour  us.  Our  fortified  camp  and 
the  tried  swords  in  our  hands  afford  our  only  pro- 
tection. Fight  valiantly,  then  ; for  life  as  well  as 
glory  is  at  stake.” 

Leaving  the  infantry  with  the  baggage  and 
utensils  in  camp  as  a strong  reserve,  he  now  led 
all  the  cavalry  forward  towards  Decimum.  For 
he  was  anxious  not  to  risk  everything  upon  a 
single  cast,  but  to  find  out  first  by  means  of  a 
cavalry  skirmish  the  strength  and  plans  of  the 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 299 

enemy.  He  sent  the  auxiliary  cavalry  in  advance, 
and  followed  with  the  remaining  squadrons  and 
his  mounted  body-guard.  When  the  auxiliary 
cavalry  reached  Decimum  they  came  upon  the 
Byzantines  and  Vandals  who  had  fallen  there. 
Most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  had  fled  to 
Carthage,  when  they  discovered  that  their  village 
had  been  selected  as  the  battle-field.  Two  or 
three,  however,  were  found  concealed  in  the 
houses,  and  they  reported  to  us  what  had  taken 
place. 

Here  a wonderfully  beautiful  woman,  the  owner 
of  the  finest  villa  in  Decimum, — she  looks  some- 
thing like  the  sphinx  at  Memphis, — voluntarily 
came  forward  and  told  us  about  the  death  of  the 
nobleman,  which  she  had  herself  witnessed.  He 
fell  before  her  house,  under  her  very  eyes. 

The  leaders  now  consulted  together,  undecided 
whether  to  advance,  to  halt,  or  to  return  to  Beli- 
sarius.  Finally  the  entire  force  of  auxiliary  cav? 
airy  moved  forward  about  two  miles  west  from 
Decinum,  in  order  to  obtain  a better  outlook  in  all 
directions  from  the  high  sand-hills  at  that  place. 

Suddenly  from  the  south-southwest,  and,  com 
sequently,  on  their  rear  and  left  flank,  rose  a huge 
cloud  of  dust,  and  soon  there  could  be  discerned 
through  it  the  gleam  of  arms  and  the  field-insignia 


300  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

of  a vast  body  of  cavalry.  Messengers  were  at 
once  despatched  to  Belisarius  to  announce  that 
he  need  look  no  further ; the  enemy  had  been 
found. 

Meanwhile  the  barbarians  rapidly  drew  nearer, 
led  by  Gelimer  himself.  They  were  approaching 
along  a road  leading  between  Belisarius’s  main 
body  to  the  east  and  the  Huns  and  Thracians  on 
the  left  wing  who  had  defeated  Gibamund  and 
were  pursuing  far  to  the  west  the  fleeing  remnant 
of  his  force.  But  the  hills  along  the  road  cut  off 
Gelimer’s  view,  so  that  he  could  not  overlook 
Gibamund’s  battle-field.  Both  Byzantines  and 
Vandals,  as  soon  as  they  perceived  each  other,  en- 
deavored to  gain  the  summit  of  a high  hill  which 
commanded  the  entire  surrounding  country.  The 
barbarians  reached  the  top  first,  and  from  it  King 
Gelimer  hurled  himself  with  such  fury  upon  our 
auxiliary  cavalry  that  these,  struck  with  terror, 
broke  their  ranks  and  fled  in  wild  disorder  to  the 
east,  towards  Decimum. 

About  nine  hundred  paces  west  of  Decimum, 
the  fugitives  came  upon  a strong  body  of  reserves, 
a force  of  eight  hundred  mounted  shield-bearers, 
led  by  Belox,  aj^ officer  of  Belisarius’s  body-guard. 
Our  general  and  all  of  us,  who  had  seen  with  con- 
sternation the  flight  of  our  auxiliary  cavalry,  com- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  301 

forted  ourselves  with  the  hope  that  Belox  would 
stay  the  rout,  gather  together  the  fleeing  troopers, 
and  advance  with  them  upon  the  enemy.  But 
oh,  disgrace  and  horror  ! So  terrific  was  the  onset 
of  the  Vandals  that  neither  the  fugitives  nor  the 
shield-bearers  attempted  to  sustain  their  charge, 
but  all  together  took  to  flight  and  came  rushing 
in  uncontrollable  panic  right  back  upon  Belisarius. 

Our  general  says  that  at  that  moment  he  gave 
up  himself  and  all  of  us  for  lost.  “Gelimer,”  said 
he,  as  we  were  taking  our  evening  meal,  “ had  the 
victory  in  his  hands.  Why  he — voluntarily — let 
it  fall  from  them  is  inexplicable.  Had  he  fol- 
lowed up  our  fleeing  troops,  he  would  have  swept 
me  and  all  my  force  irresistibly  into  the  sea — so 
great. was  the  fright  of  our  men  and  the  impetuos- 
ity of  the  Vandal  assault.  Then  the  camp  and 
the  infantry  would  have  inevitably  been  over- 
powered. Or  had  he,  on  the  other  hand,  turned 
back  from  Decimum  towards  Carthage,  he  could 
have  annihilated,  almost  without  resistance,  Fara 
and  his  men,  who,  expecting  no  attack  from  tfieir 
rear,  were  scattered  along  the  road  and  through 
the  fields  in  small  parties,  engaged  in  plundering 
the  slain.  And  when  in  possession  of  Carthage, 
he  could  have  captured  easily  our  unguarded  fleet, 
anchored  in  the  vicinity,  and  cut  us  off  from  every 
hope  either  of  victory  or  of  return.” 


302  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

But  King  Gelimer  did  neither.  A sudden  pa- 
ralysis fell  upon  the  energetic  will  that  was  so  suc- 
cessfully carrying  everything  before  it. 

Our  captives  tell  us  that  as  he  charged  down 
the  hill,  spurring  his  gray  horse  far  in  advance  of 
his  followers,  he  espied  in  the  narrow  pass,  at  the 
southern  entrance  of  Decimum,  first  of  all  the 
corpse  of  his  young  brother  lying  in  the  road. 
With  a piercing  cry  of  grief  he  sprang  from  his 
horse,  threw  himself  upon  the  body  of  the  boy, 
and  thus  blocked  the  progress  of  his  cavalry, 
whose  foremost  horses,  held  back  with  difficulty 
by  their  riders  that  they  might  not  trample  the 
king  under  their  hoofs,  reared,  plunged,  and 
backed,  throwing  the  ranks  behind  them  into  con- 
fusion, and  bringing  the  whole  pursuit  to  a stand. 
The  king  lifted  up  in  his  arms  the  disfigured 
corpse,  all  covered  with  blood  and  sand, — for  our 
calvary  in  their  flight  had  swept  over  it, — placed 
it  upon  his  horse,  and  commanded  that  it  should 
be  buried  with  royal  honors  on  one  side  of  the 
highway,  himself  assisting  in  the  work.  The 
whole  affair  probably  did  not  take  more  than  a 
quarter  of  an  hour.  But  this  quarter  of  an  hour 
cost  the  barbarians  the  victory  they  had  won. 

For  in  the  mean  time  Belisarius  rushed  up  to  our 
fugitives,  roared  out  at  them  with  his  lion’s  voice 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  303 

his  all-compelling  “Halt!”  and,  raising  his  helmet, 
showed  them  his  countenance  all  ablaze  with 
anger,  a thing  which  his  soldiers  fear  more  than 
the  spears  of  all  the  barbarians  alive.  Then  he 
brought  to  a stand  the  now  thoroughly  ashamed 
soldiers,  arranged  them — amid  a storm  of  furious 
reproaches — as  well  as  the  shortness  of  time  per- 
mitted, and,  having  found  out  what  it  was  neces- 
sary for  him  to  know  concerning  the  position  and 
strength  of  the  barbarians,  advanced  in  turn  upon 
Gelimer  and  the  Vandals. 

They  made  but  a feeble  resistance.  The  sud- 
den, to  them  unintelligible,  stoppage  of  their 
charge  had  bewildered,  amazed,  disheartened 
them ; besides,  they  had  expended  their  strength 
in  that  furious  ride.  Fearfully  hot,  seriously 
troubling  us  also,  poured  down  the  rays  of  the 
African  sun.  Our  first  onset  broke  through  their 
ranks.  Then  they  turned  and  fled.  Their  king, 
who  attempted  to  stop  them,  was  swept  along  by 
the  tide.  The  direction  of  their  flight  was  not 
towards  Carthage,  nor  yet  towards  Byzacium  in 
the  southwest,  whence  they  had  come,  but  to- 
wards the  north-northwest,  along  the  road  which 
leads  to  Numidia,  to  the  plain  of  Bulla.  Whether 
this  was  by  command  of  the  king  or  without  it, 
we  do  not  yet  know. 


/ 

/ 

/ 

304  The  Last  of  the  va heals. 

We  made  a fearful  slaughter  of  the  fleeing 
enemy.  Only  night  put  an  end  to  the  pursuit. 

When  darkness  had  set  in,  and  the  torches  and 
watch-fires  were  lighted,  Fara  and  his  Heruli  re- 
joined us  from  the  north,  and  Althias  with  the 
Huns  and  Thracians  from  the  west.  Then  all  to- 
gether we  took  up  our  quarters  for  the  night  in 
Decimum,  celebrating  three  victories  in  one  day, 
— over  the  nobleman,  over  Gibamund,  and  over 
the  king. 


XXXI. 

The  fleeing  Vandals,  leaving  Carthage  far  to 
their  right,  had  taken  the  road  leading  from 
Decimum  towards  the  northwest  iato  Numidia. 

A crowd  of  women  and  children,  who,  some 
days  before,  had  abandoned  Carthage,  as  an  in- 
secure place  of  refuge,  had  been  sent  already  in 
the  same  direction,  under  a strong  guard,  from 
the  camp  of  the  previous  night.  These  had  halt- 
ed at  the  little  hamlet  known  as  “ Castra  Vetera/' 
about  half  a day's  march  from  the  field  of  battle. 
Here  they  were  joined  by  the  fugitives  from 
Decimum,  about  two  hours  before  midnight. 

The  army  encamped  on-  the  open  ground 
around  the  village,  the  many  wounded  and  the 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS.  305 

leaders  being  sheltered  in  the  rude  huts  of  the* 
place  and  the  by  no  means  numerous  tents 
brought  with  them  by  the  women.  In  one  of 
these  tents  lay  Gibamund,  stretched  out  upon 
coverlets  and  pillows.  Hilda  knelt  beside  him, 
busily  occupied  in  renewing  the  bandage  around 
his  foot.  As  soon  as  she  had  done  this  she 
turned  to  Gundomar,  who  sat  on  the  other  side  of 
the  small  enclosure,  supporting  his  bandaged 
head  upon  his  hand,  while  the  blood  was  trickling 
down  from  his  yellow  hair.  Carefully  she  ex- 
amined the  wound.  “ It  is  not  fatal,”  she  said  at 
length.  “ Does  it  pain  you  much  ?” 

“ Not  very  much,”  said  the  Gunding,  pressing 
his  teeth  tightly  together.  “ Where  is  the  king?” 
“ In  the  small  chapel  with  Verus.  He  is  pray- 
ing.” The  words  came  bitterly  from  her  lips. 

“ And  my  brother?”  asked  Gundomar.  “How 
is  it  with  his  shoulder?” 

“ I cut  the  arrow-head  out.  The  wound  does 
not  trouble  him  much.  He  is  now  in  command 
of  the  guard.  The  king  also  is  wounded.” 

“What?”  exclaimed  both  the  startled  men. 
“He  said  nothing  of  it.” 

“ His  shame  for  his  people  kept  him  silent. 
For  not  an  enemy,  but  fleeing  Vandals,  whom  he 
forcibly  attempted  to  stop  and  turn  back,  thrust 
their  daggers  into  his  arm.” 


3 06  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ The  dogs  !"  muttered  Gundomar. 

“ Gundobad,  who  witnessed  the  affair,  revealed 
it  to  me.  Then  I examined  the  arm  ; the  wounds 
are  not  dangerous/' 

“And  Eugenia?"  Gundomar  asked  after  a 
pause. 

“ She  lies  in  the  next  tent,  like  one  that  has  been 
stunned.  When  she  heard  of  her  husband’s 
death,  she  cried:  ‘To  him  ! Into  his  grave— Si- 
Tgrun  !’ — I had  related  to  her  once  the  saga  of 
Helgi — and  she  started,  frenzied  with  grief,  to 
rush  forth,  but,  the  next  moment,  fell  swooning 
into  my  arms.  Since  she  has  recovered  her 
senses  she  lies  heart-broken  upon  the  couch.  ‘ To 
him  ! — Sigrun  ! Into  his  grave  ! — I am  coming, 
Thrasaric  ! ’ is  all  that  she  says  in  answer  to  my 
questions.  She  wished  to  rise  in  order  to  hear 
more  exact  details,  but  she  could  not.  And  I 
forbade  her  positively  to  attempt  it  again.  I will 
tell  her  what  is  best  for  her  to  know,  nothing 
more.  But  if  you  are  able,  Gundomar,  explain 
to  us — I know'  all  the  rest — how  Ammata,  how 
Thrasaric — ’’ 

“ In  a moment,"  replied  the  Gunding.  “First, 
one  more  drink  of  water. — And  your  wound, 
Gibamund  ?" 

“ Oh,  that  is  nothing  !"  said  the  latter,  bitterly. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS:  30 7 

“ I did  not  even  reach  the  enemy.  Messenger 
after  messenger  I sent  out  to  Thrasaric,  when  the 
expected  announcement  that  he  was  advancing 
from  Decimum  failed  to  come.  None  of  the 
messengers  returned;  all  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  And  no  announcement  from  Thrasaric  ! 
The  time  decided  upon  for  attack  had  fully  ar- 
rived. Faithful  to  the  king’s  command,  I moved 
forward,  although  I perceived  the  greatly  superior 
force  of  the  foe,  and  although  there  were  no  signs 
of  the  main  assault,  no  signs  of  Thrasaric. 
When  we  came  within  arrow-shot,  the  Hunnish 
horsemen  sprang  apart,  to  the  right  and  to  the 
left,  and  we  saw  the  Thracian  infantry,  seven 
ranks  deep.  Then  a shower  of  arrows  fell  upon 
us,  aimed  especially  at  the  horses.  Mine  and  all 
those  of  our  first  line  fell  at  once.  Your  valiant 
brother,  in  the  second  rank,  although  himself  hit 
by  an  arrow,  lifted  me  with  difficulty  upon  his 
own  horse,  for  I could  not  stand,  and  saved  me. 
On  both  flanks  the  Hunnish  cavalry  now  charged 
upon  us,  while  from  the  front  the  Thracians 
pressed  forward  with  levelled  spears.  Scarcely  a 
hundred  of  my  two  thousand  men  are  left  alive,’5 
he  concluded  with  a groan. 

u But  tell  me,  how  came  Ammata — contrary  to 
the  king’s  orders,  in  spite  of  Thrasaric’s  precam 
tions — *'  demanded  Hilda. 


308  the  last  of  the  vandals, 

“ It  happened  thus/'  replied  the  Gunding, 
pressing  his  hand  to  the  painful  wound  in  his 
head.  “ We  had  placed  the  boy,  deprived  of  his 
weapons,  in  the  small  Catholic  basilica  at  Deci- 
mum,  together  with  the  hostages  from  Carthage 
and  the  young  Publius  Pu^entius.” 

“ And  Hilderic  and  Euages?” 

“ No  ; Verus  had  caused  them  to  be  taken  to 
the  second  camp  at  Bulla.  Bleda,  the  captive 
Hun,  was  fastened  with  a rope  to  the  bronze  ring 
outside  of  the  church  door  ; he  lay  upon  the  up- 
permost step.  On  the  open  place  before  the  lit- 
tle church  were  about  twenty  of  our  horsemen. 
At  Thrasaric’s  command — he  rode  repeatedly  to 
the  spot,  making  a careful  inspection  of  all  the 
surroundings — many  of  them  had  dismounted, 
had  thrust  their  spe'ars  into  the  sand  beside  their 
horses,  and  from  the  flat  roofs  of  the  neighboring 
houses  were  observing  the  enemy’s  slow  ap- 
proach from  the  southwest.  I sat  on  horseback 
beside  thet>pen  window  of  the  basilica,  from  the 
corner  of  which  there  is  an  unbroken  view  to  the 
beginning  of  the  main  street  of  Decimum,  where 
Astarte’s,  formerly  Modigisel’s,  villa  lies.  Thus  I 
heard  every  word  spoken  in  the  church — as  yet 
no  Byzantines  were  in  sight.  Two  boys  were 
quarrelling  violently. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  3O9 

• 

“ ‘ What ! ’ cried  one,  4 is  this  the  boasted  hero- 
ism of  the  Vandals?  You  are  staying  in  the 
asylum  afforded  by  the  church  of  the  persecuted 
Catholics  ? You  are  seeking  refuge  here  ? ’ 

“ ‘ Command  of  the  king,’  replied  Ammata,  his 
voice  almost  choked  with  rage. 

“ ‘ Ha!  ’ exclaimed  the  other,  whose  voice  I now 
recognized — it  was  Pudentius.  ‘ I would  submit 
to  no  such  command  from  either  king  or  emperor. 
I am  fettered  hand  and  foot ; otherwise  I should 
long  since  have  been  out  there,  fighting  on  the  side 
of  the  Romans.’ 

“ ‘ Command  of  the  king,  I tell  you.’ 

“‘Command  of  cowardice!  Were  I a scion  of 
the  royal  house  whose  crown  is  here  at  stake, 
nothing  should  hold  me  in  a church  while — -hark! 
that  is  a trumpet.  That  is  the  Romans’  victori- 
ous— ’ 

“ I could  hear  no  more,  for  just  then  from  be- 
yond Decimum  rang  out  a loud  peal  of  the  Roman 

trumpets.” 

Here  the  folds  of  the  tent  were  gently  pushed 
apart,  and  a pale  face  with  two  large,  dark  eyes 
appeared  at  the  opening.  No  one  noticed  it. 

“At  the  same  instant  a youthful  form  leaped 
out  through  the  open  window  of  the  church — I 
do  not  understand  how  the  boy  got  up  there — 


310  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

darted  past  me,  sprang  into  the  empty  saddle 
upon  the  horse  of  one  of  our  riders,  wrested  the 
spear  beside  it  from  the  ground,  and  with  the 
exultant  shout:  ‘ Vandals!  Vandals!*  galloped 
down  the  street  toward  the  Byzantines. 

“‘Ammata!  Ammata!  Stop!*  Thrasaric  called 
to  him  ; but  the  boy  was  already  far  on  his  way. 

“ ‘ After  him,  Gundomar  ! After  him  ! Save 
the  boy ! * shouted  Thrasaric,  as  he  dashed  past  v 
me. 

“ I followed  ; our  horsemen — a mere  handful — 
did  the  same.  4 Too  soon!  Much  too  soon!’  I 
exclaimed  as  I overtook  Thrasaric. 

“ 4 The  king  confided  the  boy  to  my  care.’ 

“ It  was  impossible  to  stop  him,  so  I,  too,  rode 
on.  We  had  reached  already  the  narrow  southern 
entrance  to  Decimum  ; on  the  right  was  the  villa 
of  Astarte,  on  the  left  the  high  stone  wall  of  a 
grain-magazine.  Ammata,  without  helmet,  breast* 
plate,  or  shield,  with  only  the  spear  in  his  hand, 
had  halted  in  front  of  a whole  troop  of  mounted 
lancers,  who  gazed  in  astonishment  at  the  au- 
dacious boy. 

“‘Back,  Ammata!  Flee!  I will  protect  the 
passage  here!’  cried  Thrasaric. 

■“I  do  not  flee ! I am  a descendant  pf  Geis-, 
eric/  was  the  boy’s  answer. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  3 1 1 

“‘Then  we  will  die  here  together!  Take  my 
shield/ 

It  was  high  time,  for  already  the  darts  of  the 
Byzantines  flew  thick  about  us.  Our  three  horses 
fell,  but  we  all  sprang  up  uninjured.  A javelin 
stuck  in  the  shield  which  Thrasaric  had  pressed 
upon  the  boy,  piercing  through  the  emblazoned 
hammer.  A dozen  of  our  horsemen  now  came  up 
behind  us.  Six  of  them  sprang  from  their  steeds 
and  levelled  their  spears,  barring  effectually  the 
narrow  entrance.  The  Byzantines  rushed  upon 
us,  but  there  was  room  for  three  horses  only 
abreast.  We  three  ran  through  two  lancers  and  a 
horse.  The  enemy  were  compelled  to  remove  their 
dead,  and  also  the  fallen  horses,  in  order  to  make 
fighting-room  for  themselves.  While  they  were 
attempting  to  do  this,  Ammata  sprang  forward 
and  stabbed  another  of  the  Byzantines.  As  he 
leaped  back,  a dart  grazed  his  throat ; the  blood 
spurted  cut,  but  the  boy  only  laughed.  Again 
the  enemy  charged  upon  us,  and  again  two  of 
them  fell.  But  so  many  spears  were  now  fixed  in 
his  shield  that  Ammata  was  compelled  to  lower 
it,  and  Thrasaric  received  a lance-thrust  in  his  left 
arm. 

“And  now  behind  the  Byzantines  we  heard  the 
sound  of  German  horns.  They  resembled  those 


312  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

of  our  cavalry.  ‘ Gibamund  ! Or  the  king  ! ’ ex- 
claimed our  followers.  ‘ We  are  saved  ! ’ 

“ On  the  contrary,  we  were  hopelessly  lost. 
They  were  Herulians  in  the  emperor’s  service. 
Their  leader,  a tall  figure,  with  the  wings  of  an 
eagle  above  his  helmet,  assumed  command  of  all 
the  enemy.  He  caused  several  of  his  horsemen 
to  dismount  and  to  climb  the  wall  of  the  granary 
on  his  right,  while  others  galloped  off  to  the  left, 
to  ride  around  the  villa.  At  the  same  time  they 
poured  upon  us  a perfect  storm  of  darts.  The 
boar’s  helmet,  struck  at  once  by  two  javelins,  flew 
from  my  head,  while  a third  stretched  me  on  the 
ground.  At  this  moment,  while  our  whole  atten- 
tion was  turned  towards  the  enemy  in  front,  a man 
on  foot  rushed  up  from  behind  through  our  horse- 
men. I heard  a hoarse  exclamation,  ‘ Wait,  boy ! * 
and  I saw  the  gleam  of  a weapon.  Ammata  fell 
forward  upon  his  knee. 

“ It  was  Bleda,  the  captive  Hun.  He  still  drag- 
ged after  him  the  broken  rope  attached  to  his  foot. 
He  had  torn  himself  loose  and  seized  a weapon. 
Before,  however,  he  could  draw  out  his  sword  from 
the  boy’s  back,  Thrasaric  ran  him  through  with 
his  spear.  But  the  valiant  nobleman  had  forgot- 
ten the  assailants  in  front.  He  no  longer  thrust 
aside  as  hitherto  the  flvirv  hvelins.  Two  spears 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS.  3 1 3 

struck  him  at  once ; with  a deep  wound  in  his 
thigh  he  staggered  baclc  against  the  wall  of  the 
villa.  Then  suddenly  a small  gate  opened,  and 
in  the  opening  stood  Astarte.  * Come,  my  love,  I 
will  save  you,’  she  said,  and  grasped  him  by  the 
arm.  ‘A  secret  passage  from  my  cellar — * 

“ Without  a word  Thrasaric  tore  himself  loose 
and  threw  himself  before  the  kneeling  boy.  And 
now  there  pressed  forward  against  them  whole 
troops  of  Herulians  and  Byzantines,  both  on  horse 
and  on  foot.  The  little  gate  was  closed  again. 

“ I tried  to  rise,  but  could  not.  And  so,  unable 
to  give  any  help,  but  protected  myself  by  the  dead 
body  of  my  horse,  I saw  the  end. 

“ I make  the  story  short.  Sordong  as  he  could 
move  an  arm,  the  faithful  Thrasaric  protected  the 
boy  with  sword  and^spear,  and,  when  at  length  the 
spear  was  beaten  from  his  hand  and  his  sword 
broken,  with  his  own  body.  I saw  how,  spreading 
over  him  the  huge  bear-skin  as  a shield,  he  clasped 
both  his  arms  around  Ammata’s  breast. 

“ ‘ Surrender,  valiant  man  ! ’ called  out  the  leader 
of  the  Heruli.  jBut  Thrasaric. — Hark!  what 
was  that  ?” 

“ A groan.  Was  it  you,  Gibamund  ? Does 
your  foot  pain  so  much  ?” 

“I  was  silent.  Doubtless  it  was  some  night- 
bird  outside  the  tent,” 


314  the  last  of  the  vandals . 

“ But  Thrasaric  shook  his  massive  head,  and 
hurled  the  handle  of  his  sword  in  the  face  of  the 
nearest  Byzantine,  so  that  he  fell  with  a cry  of 
agony. 

“ Then  came  such  a flight  of  spears  that  Am- 
mata  sank  down  dead  upon  the  ground.  Thrasaric 
did  not  fall,  but  remained  standing  in  a half-stoop- 
ing posture,  both  arms  hanging  down  before  him. 
The  leader  of  the  Heruli  stepped  up  close  to  him 
and  said:  ‘ Assuredly  I have  never  seen  such  a 

thing  as  this  before ! The  man  is  dead;  but  he 
cannot  fall,  so  many* spears  whose  shafts  rest  on 
the  ground  are  sticking  in  his  breast/  With  gen- 
tle hands  for  so  rough  a warrior  he  drew  some  of 
them  out,  and  let  the  body  of  the  stalwart  hero 
sink  down  beside  Ammata. 

“ Our  horsemen  fled  as  soon  as  they  saw  us  fall. 
I lay  like  one  dead,  and  the  pursuit  dashed  past 
me.  After  a long  time,  when  all  had  become 
quiet,  I succeeded  in  raising  myself  a little.  So 
the  king  found  me  beside  Ammata,  whose  fate 
and  that  of  Thrasaric  I related  to  him.  As  for 
the  rest — how  he  lost  the  moment  of  victory ; yes, 
threw  away  the  victory  already  gained — you  know 
as  well — ” 

“ We  know  all  that,”  said  Hilda,  dejectedly. 

“And  where  is  Ammata — where  is  Thrasaric 
buried  ?”  inquired  GibamuncJ. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  3 1 $ 

“ Close  by  Decimum,  in  two  hills.  The*  land 
belongs  to  a colonist.  According  to  the  custom 
of  our  ancestors,  three  projecting  spears  were 
planted  in  each  hill.  Then  the  king’s  followers 
placed  me  on  a horse  which  brought  me  here  in 
the  lamentable  retreat.  Fie  upon  this  Vandal 
people,  that  suffers  its  princes  and  nobles  to  fight 
and  bleed  alone ! What  have  the  masses  yet 
effected,  except  a headlong  and  disgraceful 
flight?” 

XXXII. 

THE  dim  gray  of  early  dawn  was  just  beginning 
to  displace  the  darkness  in  the  furthest  east,  al- 
though overhead  the  stars  still  sparkled  in  the 
sky,  when  there  glided  through  the  streets  of  the 
camp,  with  swift  but  noiseless  steps,  a delicate, 
girlish  figure. 

The  shaggy  dogs  that  watched  the  tents  of 
their  masters  growled  slightly,  but  did  not  bark. 
A Vandal  who  stood  on  guard  at  the  corner  of 
one  of  the  streets  started,  superstitiously  crossed 
himself,  and  attempted  by  a wide  circuit  to  avoid 
the  approaching  white  figure.  But  the  latter 
came  right  up  to  him. 

“ Where  is  Decimum — I mean  in  which  direc- 
tion?” she  asked  in  low,  quickly-uttered  words. 


316  the  last  of  the  vandals . 

“•To  the  east — yonder!”  and  he  pointed  with 
his  spear. 

“ How  far  is  it?” 

“ How  far  ? Oh,  a long  distance  ! We  rode  as 
fast  as  our  horses  could  carry  us,  urged  on  by 
fear — I scarcely  know  of  what — and  did  not  draw 
rein  until  we  arrived  here.  It  took  us  six — eight 
hours.” 

“ No  matter!” 

The  hurrying  form  soon  reached  the  exit  of  the 
camp.  The  guards  let  her  pass  out  unchallenged. 
But  one  called  after  her,  “ Which  way?  Not  that! 
The  enemy  is  there !” 

“ Do  not  remain  long,”  added  a Moor.  “The 
evil  wind  is  rising.”  But  she  was  already  out  of 
hearing.  As  soon  as  she  was  beyond  the  camp, 
she  sought  to  avoid  the  road  marked  by  the  tracks 
of  men  and  horses,  and  also  by  lost  and  discarded 
weapons — if  this  line  through  the  desert  could  be 
called  a road.  She  turned,  therefore,  aside  from 
the  path  a few  hundred  paces  to  the  south, 
towards  the  interior  of  the  desert,  in  so  doing 
climbing  over  several  high,  dune-like  hills  of  sand. 

After  she  believed  herself  sufficiently  distant 
from  the  road  to  be  no  longer  visible  from  it,  she 
turned  again  in  her  original  direction  towards  the 
east,  or  what  she  supposed  to  be  the  east.  For 


The  last  of  the  fa jvbals  317 

the  sun,  that  for  a time  had  risen,  like  a bail  of 
glowing  fire,  eclipsing  the  light  of  the  stars  and 
pointing  out  the  way,  had  soon  disappeared  behind 
a vaporous  veil,  the  exhalation  of  the  desert. 

And  now  with  all  her  strength  she'  hurried  on. 
There  was  no  mark  to  guide  her  way,  no  tree,  no 
bush  ; only  the  sky  above  and  the  sand  below. 
Sometimes  this  sank  into  valleys,  sometimes  it 
rose  in  hills,  but  these  were  all  monotonously 
alike  in  formation  and  appearance. 

“ If  I can  only  reach  his  grave,”  she  thought ; 
“ only  reach  his  grave!” 

How  still  it  was!  Save  for  her  swiftly-moving 
form  it  might  have  been  merely  a pictured  world. 
Once  only  she  thought  she  saw,  far  to  her  left,  in 
the  direction  of  the  “road,”  shadows  like  those 
cast  by  scudding  clouds;  possibly,  instead  of 
shadows,  they  might  be  ostriches  or  antelopes. 
But  no  ; it  seemed  to  her  that  she  heard  human 
voices,  then  the  tones  of  some  one  calling.  It 
was  far,  far  away ; but  the  voice  seemed  to  cry, 
“Eugenia !” 

She  cowered  in  anxiety  close  to  the  sand-hill 
-beside  her.  So  from  the  left  she  could  not  be 
seen,  even  if  the  valley  in  which  she  was  hiding 
was  visible  from  some  elevation.  “ Eugenia !” 
The  word  came  now  more  distinctly ; it  sounded 


31 8 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 

like  Hilda’s  voice.  Soon,  however,  the  tones  grew 
fainter,  mournfully,  hopelessly  dying  away  in  the' 
distance.  Then  again  all  was  still.  She  sprang 
up  and  began  anew  her  breathless  running. 

It  troubled  her  that  she  no  longer  had  any 
means  of  determining  the  direction  in  which  she 
was  going.  Suppose  she  was  not  keeping  a 
straight  course  ? Then  it  occurred  to  her  to  look 
back.  The  track  of  every  one  of  her  light  foot- 
steps was  imprinted  clearly  on  the  sand,  and  the 
line  was  straight.  She  was  rejoiced  at  her  sa-  f 
gacity.  And  now  she  looked  back  often — every 
hundred  paces — to  make  sure  that  there  was  no 
deviation. 

Only  forward,  forward!  She  was  growing  anx- 
ious. The  perspiration  was  dripping  from  her 
forehead,  from  her  bare  arms — it  had  grown  so 
hot  and  sultry,  and  the  sky  above  was  like  lead. 
But  soon  a low,  hot  wind  sprang  up  from  the 
south. 

She  looked  around  again.  Oh,  horror!  She 
no  longer  saw  any  trace  of  her  footprints ! The 
whole  stretch  of  sand  lay  as  smooth  behind  her  as 
if  she  were  just  setting  out  on  her  journey.  In 
amazement  she  stamped  her  foot  upon  the 
ground  ; the  impress  was  effaced  almost  instantly 
by  the  particles  of  fine  sand  which  flew  along  be- 
fore the  gentle  wind. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  3 19 

This  frightened  her.  She  pressed  her  hand 
against  her  loudly  beating  heart.  When  she  drew 
it  back,  the  palm  was  half  full  of  sand,  for  a coat- 
ing of  fine-grained  sand  had  covered  her  clothing, 
her  hair,  and  even  her  face.  Through  her  bewild- 
ered brain  flashed  the  remembrance  that  she  had 
heard  how  men,  camels,  whole  caravans,  had  been 
covered  over  by  such  sand-drifts,  and  how  the 
sand,  heaped  together  by  the  wind,  often  rose  like 
a monstrous  wave  and  buried  beneath  it  with  in- 
fallible certainty  whatever  life  it  swept  over.  She 
fancied  that  on  her  right,  to  the  south,  she  saw 
such  a wave  forming  and  rolling  rapidly  forward  to 
obstruct  the  way.  Therefore  she  must  run  more 
quickly  to  escape  it,  for  as  yet  the  course  was 
clear.  But  suddenly  there  came  from  one  side  a 
stronger  puff  of  wind,  that  snatched  from  her 
head  her  hat  of  intertwined  bast  and  whirled  it 
along  toward  the  north.  Almost  before  she  could 
recover  from  her  surprise  it  had  disappeared  from 
sight.  To  regain  it  was  impossible.  Besides,  she 
must  hasten  on  towards  the  east — forwards!  on! 
on ! 

The  wind  grew  stronger  and  stronger.  The  sun, 
mounting  higher  and  breaking  its  way  through  the 
haze,  poured  its  burning  rays  upon  her  unprotect- 
ed head,  her  dark  brown  hair  fluttered  wildly 


320  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

about  her  ; it  hurt  her  when,  all  crusted  over  with 
salt,  it  struck  her  on  the  cheeks.  Nor  was  it  easy 
for  her  to  keep  her  eyes  open,  for  the  fine  stinging 
sand  kept  forcing  its  way  through  the  long  lashes. 
Farther ! The  sand  filled  her  shoes,  and  the  band 
of  the  left  one  broke  above  the  instep.  She  took 
the  shoe  up:  the  wind  swept  it  from  her  hand  and 
whirled  it  away. 

Under  the  circumstances  it  was  no  great  loss, 
but  she  burst  into  tears,  weeping  at  her  helpless- 
ness. She  sank  upon  her  knees,  and  softly, 
stealthily,  the  insidious  sand  piled  itself  up  about 
her.  Just  then  she  heard  a shrill,  harrowing  cry 
of  fear — the  first  sound  that  had  come  to  her  ears 
in  that  vast  solitude  for  many  hours, — and  a dark 
object  sped  across  the  desert  before  her,  from 
south  to  north.  It  was  an  ostrich,  fleeing  in  dead- 
ly terror  before  the  baleful  wind.  With  its  head 
and  long  white  neck  stretched  out  before  it,  and 
hastening  with  the  sweep  of  its  wings  the  pace  of 
its  swift  feet,  it  darted  away  like  an  arrow. 

if  This  creature  puts  forth  all  its  might  in  order 
to  save  its  life.  ‘ Shall  I allow  my  strength  to  fail, 
I who  am  hastening  to  him  I love  ? ‘ Shame  upon 
you,  little  one  ! ’ he  would  say.”  And  she  smiled 
through  her  tears,  staggered  to  her  feet,  and  ran 
on  once  more.  And  so  it  went  on  for  an  hour- — 
for  many  hours, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


321 


Often  it  occurred  to  her  that  she  must  have 
erred  in  her  course,  or  else  she  would  long  since 
have  reached  the  battle-field.  The  wind  had 
grown  into  a storm.  Her  heart  throbbed  as  if  it 
would  burst.  She  became  giddy,  she  fell — she 
felt  that  she  must  rest.  No  Vandal  now  could 
overtake  her  and  keep  her  by  force  from  her 
cherished  purpose. 

Right  beside  her  she  saw  something  white  stick- 
ing out  of  the  sand.  It  was  the  first  thing  for 
hours  that  had  broken  the  monotonous  yellowness 
of  the  ground.  It  was  not  a stone,  so  she  reached 
down  to  take  it  up;  but  oh  ! — a cry  of  horror,  of 
despairing  helplessness,  broke  from  her — it  was 
her  own  shoe,  which  she  had  lost  so  long  before  ! 
After  all  her  efforts,  then,  she  had  been  running 
round  in  a circle  ! Or  had  the  wind  carried  the 
shoe  far  beyond  the  place  where  she  had  lost  it  ? 
Not  so  ; for  as  with  a burst  of  tears  she  threw  it 
from  her,  it  was  filled  with  sand  before  the  wind 
could  bear  it  off.  With  all  her  strength  exhaust- 
ed, she  stood  upon  the  very  spot  where  she  had 
been  hours  before. 

To  die— now!  To  abandon  further  effort — to 
rest — to  sleep  ! To  the  wearied  one  it  seemed  that 
would  be  sweet.  But  no!  To  him!  How  did 
it  run?  ‘And  her  love  was  so  great  that  it  drew 
her  into  the  grave  of  her  dead  hero/  To  him !” 


322 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS. 


She  rose  with  a great  effort,  for  she  had  become 
very  weak.  But  almost  instantly  a fierce  blast  of 
wind  hurled  her  again  to  the  ground.  Once  more 
she  struggled  to  her  feet;  she  wished  to  look 
whether  some  human  being,  some  house,  or  even 
the  road  might  not  be  visible.  Right  before  her 
to  the  north  was  a sand-hill  higher  than  any  which 
she  had  yet  seen — rising  perhaps  a hundred  feet. 
If  she  could  succeed  in  climbing  this,  she  would 
obtain  from  its  summit  a wide  outlook.  With  in- 
describable efforts,  for  at  almost  every  step  she 
sank  knee-deep  in  the  loose  sand  until  her  foot 
reached  the  older  and  coarser  structure  beneath, 
she  worked  her  way  up,  often,  when  she  stumbled, 
slipping  back  several  steps.  And  the  worst,  the 
most  disquieting  feature  of  her  progress  was  that 
at  every  such  movement  the  whole  sand-hill 
seemed  to  tremble,  to  crumble  and  give  way  on 
all  sides.  This  at  first  startled  her  and  caused  her 
to  stop ; she  thought  perhaps  the  whole  mass 
would  sink  down  and  bury  her."  But  she  over- 
came her  fears  and  crawled  up  towards  the  last 
on  her  knees,  for  she  could  no  longer  stand.  The 
wind,  which  had  now  become  a hurricane,  actually 
helped  her — it  blew  so  strongly  from  the  south  in 
the  direction  she  was  going.  The  journey  seemed 
to  her  longer  than  all  the  way  before,  but  at  last 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


323 


she  reached  the  top.  She  opened  her  eyes,  which 
she  had  for  some  time  kept  closed,  and — oh,  joy  ! 
— before  her,  at  a great  distance,  it  is  true,  but  still 
distinctly  visible,  was  a strip  of  blue — that  was  the 
sea!  And  on  one  side,  to  the  east,  she  thought 
she  could  distinguish  houses  and  trees — surely  that 
was  Decimum ! And  somewhat  farther  inland 
there  rose  a dark  hill — that  was  the  end  of  the 
desert ! She  believed — but  of  course  it  was  im- 
possible to  see  so  far — she  believed  or  fancied 
that  she  saw  on  the  top  of  the  hill  three  thin, 
black,  upright  lines,  clearly  defined  against  the 
horizon — these  must  be  the  spears  above  his 
grave.  “ My  beloved  ! my  hero  !”  she  cried,  “ I am 
coming.” 

With  outstretched  arms  she  started  down  the 
northern  side  of  the  sand-hill.  But  at  the  first 
step  the  treacherous  surface  yielded,  and  she  sank 
in  up  to  her  knees,  then  deeper,  to  her  waist. 
With  her  last  remaining  strength  she  thrust  out 
both  her  arms  and  plunged  her  hands  down  in  the 
sand,  striving  to  extricate  herself,  while  her  great 
antelope-like  eyes  looked  up  imploringly — ah,  so 
despairingly! — to  the  silent  blue  heaven  above. 
One  more  effort  she  made,  still  wilder  and  more 
violent;  then  the  whole  mountain  of  sand,  dis- 
turbed by  her  struggles  and  shoved  forward  by 


324  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

the'  hurricane,  plunging  over  to  the  north,  fell 
upon  her,  burying  her  in  its  depths  and  smother- 
ing her  in  an  instant. 

And  over  the  lofty  mound  it  had  heaped  upon 
her,  the  desert  storm  swept  on,  exulting  and  tri- 
umphant* 

Many  years  had  passed,  and  the  grave  of  the 
devoted  wife  lay  undisturbed,  until  one  stormy 
night  the  wind,  that  ever-changing  architect,  swept 
away  the  sand-hill. 

There  came  one  day  a pious  hermit  who  obtained 
from  the  charitable  in  Decimum  the  scanty  sub- 
sistence that  he  needed,  and  bore  it  to  his  sand- 
cave  in  the  desert.  He  had  often  before  passed 
this  way,  but  it  was  only  on  the  preceding  day 
that  the  storm  had  laid  bare  the  skeleton. 

The  old  man  stopped  thoughtfully  before  it. 

The  bones,  bleached  dazzlingly  white,  were  as 
fine  and  delicate  as  if  fashioned  by  an  artist’s 
hand.  The  clothing,  like  the  flesh,  had  long  be- 
fore been  completely  destroyed,  by  the  infiltrating 
moisture  ; but  the  high  sand-mound  had  faithfully 
kept  its  secret  trust,  preserving  unchanged  for  a 
human  generation  the  contour  of  the  figure,  just 
as  it  was  buried  within  its  depths.  It  was  evident 
that  the  unfortunate  one  had  endeavored  with  her 


THE  LAST  OP  THE  VANDALS.  ' 325 

fight  hand  to  protect  her  eyes  and  mouth  from 
the  sand  which  pressed  upon  them,  her  left  hand 
lay  upon  her  breast,  her  face  was  turned  towards 
the  ground.  # 

“Who  were  you,  poor  creature  ?”  said  the  holy 
man,  deeply  moved,  “ that  found  here  so  lonely  an 
end?  For  nowhere  is  there  any  trace  of  a com- 
panion. A child,  no  doubt,  or  a maiden  not  yet 
fully  matured  ! But  at  all  events  a Christian — 
not  a Moor;  for  here,  hanging  from  the  neck  by  a 
silver  chain,  is  a golden  cross.  And  there,  beside 
it,  is  a singular  ornament,  a half-circlet  of  bronze 
with  characters  engraved  upon  it — not  Latin,  not 
Greek,  not  Hebrew.  No  matter!  The  maiden’s 
bones  shall  not  be  scattered  over  the  desert.  The 
Christian  shall  rest  in  consecrated  ground.  The 
peasants  must  help  me  to  bury  her.”  So  saying, 
he  went  on  towards  Decimum. 

All  traces  of  the  fight  with  the  Vandals  had 
long  since  disappeared.  The  children  who  at  that 
time  had  been  carried  off  by  the  villagers  in  their 
flight  were  now  grown  up,  and  were  the  owners 
of  the  houses  and  fields. 

The  peasant  to  whom  the  hermit  related  his 
pathetic  discovery  listened  attentively.  But  when 
he  heard  of  the  bronze  half-ring  with  the  strange 
characters  upon  it,  he  interrupted  the  speaker  and 


32&  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

said:  “ Strange ! In  the  tomb  in  the  hill  before 
our  village — the  hill  is  my  property,  and  bears 
grapes  upon  its  southern  slope — there  lies  a young 
Vandal  prince  who  fell  here, — my  father  helped 
bury  him ; and  beside  him  rests  a mighty  warrior, 
a terrible  giant,  who  is  said  to  have  fought  hero- 
ically in  defence  of  the  prince.  The  priests  say 
that  he  was  a monster,  a god  of  the  thunder,  one 
of  the  old  heathen  deities  of  the  barbarians,  at 
whose  fall  their  good  fortune  deserted  them. 
Now  this  giant  has  just  such  a bronze  half-ring  on 
his  arm  as  you  describe.  • Perhaps  the  two  be- 
long together;  who  knows?  We  cannot  dig  a 
grave  in  the  desert ; the  wind  would  blow  it  away. 
Come,  I will  drive  out  with  my  wagon,  and  we 
will  bring  back  the  bones  of  the  dead  and  place 
them  beside  the  giant ; his  grave  has  been  blessed 
by  the  priests.”  And  so  it  was  done. 

After  they  had  placed  the  small  figure  beside 
the  larger  one  in  the  tomb,  and  the  monk  had 
uttered  a half-whispered  prayer,  he  said  : “ I saw, 
my  friend,  with  pleased  surprise  that  you  have 
left  upon  the  dead  all  the  decorations  he  wore. 
And  that  you  have  taken  so  much  trouble  with 
- the  remains  of  the  poor  girl,  that  also  is  not  ex- 
actly—” 

“The  custom  of  the  peasants,  you  think.  You 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  32 7 

are  right,  holy  father.  But  King  Gelimer,  who 
once  ruled  here,  solemnly  enjoined  upon  my  father, 
after  the  battle,  the  care  of  these  graves.  He  was 
to  watch  over  them,  as  a sacred  trust,  until  he, 
Gelimer,  should  come  again  and  remove  the  bodies 
to  Carthage.  King  Gelimer  never  returned  to 
Decimum.  But  my  father,  when  dying,  charged 
upon  me  the  protection  of  the  graves  ; and  so  shall 
I enjoin  it  before  my  death  upon  my  boy  here, 
who  helped  us  at  the  burial  to-day.  For  King 
Gelimer  was  good  to  all,  even  to  us  Romans,  and 
in  the  Vandal  times  he  conferred  many  favors 
upon  my  father.  Many  now  say  he  was  not  a 
man,  but  a demon- — an  evil  one,  some  think ; but 
in  the  opinion  of  most  of  us,  a good  one.  But  de- 
mon or  man,  he  certainly  was  good,  for  my  father 
often  spoke  in  his  praise.” 


XXXIII.  - 

TO  CETHEGUS  FROM  PROCOPIUS. 

It  is  not  yet  three  months  since  we  left  Byzan- 
tium, and  I am  writing  this — really  and  truly  ! — - 
in  Carthage,  at  the  Capitol,  in  the  palace  of  the 
Asdings,  in  the  hall  of  arms  of  the  terrible  Geis- 
eric.  I sometimes  almost  doubt  the  fact  myself, 
yet  it  is  certainly  true ! 


328  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

On  the  day  after  the  fight  at  Decimum  our  in- 
fantry came  up,  and  the  whole  army  advanced  to 
Carthage,  which  we  reached  about  evening. 

We  chose  a place  for  a camp  outside  of  the  city, 
although  no  one  attempted  to  prevent  our  en- 
trance. On  the  contrary,  the  Carthaginians  had 
opened  all  their  gates,  and  everywhere  along  the 
streets  and  in  the  public  places  had  lighted  torches 
and  lanterns.  The  whole  night  these  fires  of  re- 
joicing and  welcome  burned  brightly  throughout 
the  city,  while  the  few  Vandals  who  had  not  fled 
sought  asylum  in  the  Catholic  churches. 

But  Belisarius  forbade  positively  that  the  city 
should  be  entered  in  the  night ; he  feared  some 
ambuscade  or  military  ruse.  He  could  not  be- 
lieve that  Geiseric’s  capital  would  fall  into  his 
hands  without  further  contest. 

On  the  following  day  our'ships,  borne  along  by 
a favorable  south  wmd,  sailed  around  the  promon- 
tory of  Mercury.  As  soon  as  the  Carthaginians  es- 
pied our.  flag,  they  removed  the  iron  barring- 
chains  from  their  outer  harbor,  Mandracium,  and 
made  signs  to  our  sailors  that  they  might  enter. 
This,  however,  our  naval  commander  refused  to 
do,  mindful  of  Belisarius’s  warning ; so  the  fleet 
anchored  in  the  Bay  of  Stagnum,  five  miles  from 
this  city,  awaiting  further  instructions. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 329 

But  in  order  that  the  worthy  citizens  of  Car- 
thage might  on  the  first  day  become  acquainted 
with  their  liberators,  a ship-master,  Kalonymos, 
landed  at  Mandracium  with  some  sailors — con- 
trary to  the  directions  of  Belisarius  and  the  quaes- 
tor— and  plundered  all  the  merchants,  foreigners 
as  well  as  Carthaginians,  who  have  their  store- 
houses and  residences  at  that  place.  He  took  all 
the  money,  all  the  merchandise,  and  even  the 
handsome  candelabra  and  lanterns  which  the;  in- 
habitants had  lighted  up  to  express  their  joy  at 
our  coming. 

We  had  hoped — Belisarius  gave  orders  to  look  to 
it  carefully — to  set  free  the  captive  king  Hilderic 
and  his  nephew.  But  this  hope  remains  unfulfilled. 
In  the  royal  castle,  high  above  on  the  Capitol, 
is  the  gloomy  dungeon  in  which  the  usurper 
kept  these  Asdings  imprisoned.  He  seemed  to 
adopt  this  course  with  all  his  enemies ; his  prede- 
cessors, on  the  other  hand,  preferred  the  execu- 
tioner to  the  jailor.  He  also  held  confined  here 
many  of  our  merchants,  because  he  feared  that  if 
they  should  sail  away,  they  would  convey  to  us  all 
sorts  of  useful  information.  That  this  opinion 
was  not  without  good  grounds  is  shown  in  the 
case  of  my  Hegelochos,  whom  Belisarius  sent  back 
to-day  to  Syracuse,  richly  rewarded. 


33 0 THE  LAST  OE  THE  VANDALS. 

When  the  head-jailer,  a Roman,  learned  of  our 
victory  at  Decimum,  and  saw  our  ships  coming 
round  the  promontory,  he  liberated  all  these  pris- 
oners. He  would  have  brought  out  the  king  and 
Euages  also,  but  their  cell  was  empty.  No  one 
knows  what  has  become  of  them. 

At  noon  Belisarius  commanded  the  crews  of 
the  ships  to  land,  and  all  the  troops  to  furbish 
their  arms  and  look  their  best.  Then  the  whole 
army,  in  full  battle  array — for  we  were  still  on 
guard  against  some  trickery  of  the  Vandals — 
marched  through  the  “ Grove  of  the  Empress 
Theodora,”  as  the  thankful  Carthaginians,  I un- 
derstand, have  christened  it  anew,  then  through 
the  southern  gate  into  the  lower  city. 

Belisarius  and  his  chief  lieutenants  ascended 
with  a select  body  of  troops  to  the  Capitol,  and 
our  general  ceremoniously  took  his  place  on  the 
purple  and  gold-adorned  throne  of  Geiseric. 

Belisarius  caused  the  midday  meal  to  be  served 
in  the  banquet-hall  where  Gelimer  was  accustomed 
to  entertain  the  nobles,  of  the  Vandals.  The 
saloon  is  called  “ Delphica,”  because  a magnificent 
and  artistically  wrought  tripod  forms  its  chief 
decoration.  Here  Belisarius  acted  as  host  to  the 
leaders  of  the  army,  on  the  very  spot  where,  on 
the  day  before,  the  meal  was  being  prepared  for 


33 1 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

Gelimer.  Thus  we  feasted  on  the  viands  in- 
tended for  the  celebration  of  his  victory,  and, 
seasoned  by  such  thoughts,  we  fpund  them  excel- 
lent. The  servants  of  Gelimer  brought  in  the 
dishes,  filled  the  cups  with  fragrant  Grassiker, 
and  served  us  in  all  things.  Here  again  we  see 
how  the  fickle  goddess  delights  in  sporting  with 
the  changing  fortunes  of  men. 

You,  O Cethegus! — I know  it  well — think  dif- 
ferently in  regard  to  the  ultimate  causes  of  events. 
You  see  the  rigid  necessity  of  law  regulating  the 
actions  of  men,  as  well  as  the  sunshine  and  the 
storm.  That  may  be  magnificent,  it  may  be 
heroic,  but  it  is  terrible.  I am  a modest  spirit, 
quite  the  opposite  of  a hero,  and  I cannot  endure 
such  thoughts.  I waver  doubtfully  between  two 
opinions.  At  times  I can  see  only  the  capricious 
rule  of  blind  chance,  rejoicing  alternately  to  build 
up  and  to  destroy.  Then,  again,  I believe  that  an 
inscrutable*  God  directs  all  things,  reaching  down 
out  of  the,  clouds  to  accomplish  his  mysterious 
aims.  But  I have  altogether  given  up  philoso- 
phizing and  am  satisfied  simply  to  watch  the  vary- 
ing panorama  of  events,  not  without  contempt  and 
ridicule  for  the  follies  of  other  mortals,  and  for 
those  of  Procopius  also. 

And  yet  I do  not  wish  to  break  away  entirely 


332 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


from  belief  in  Christianity.  One  does  not  know 
whether  on  the  last  day  the  Son  of  man  will  not 
really  come  in  the  clouds  of  heaven.  In  this  case 
I should  much  rather  be  placed  among  the  sheep' 
than  the  goats. 

The  people,  the  liberated  Romans,  the  Cath- 
olics, in  their  joy  over  their  deliverance,  see  every- 
where signs  and  miracles.  They  look  upon  our 
Huns  as  angels  from  heaven.  They  will  soon 
learn  to  appreciate  these  angels  more  justly,  es- 
pecially if  they  have  handsome  wives  and  daugh- 
ters or  full  money-chests.  With  all  due  respect 
to  his  majesty  the  emperor,  I must  say  that  most 
of  our  soldiers  (Belisarius’s  body-guard  excepted) 
.are  as  disreputable  a rabble  as  could  be  got  to- 
gether from  all  the  provinces  of  the  empire,  and 
from  the  adjacent  barbarian  nations,  not  less  ready 
to  steal,  to  rob,  and  to  murder  than  they  are  to 
fight.  And  yet,  in  consequence  of  the  bound- 
less good  fortune  that  has  attended  us  in  this 
whole  undertaking,  we — pickpockets  and  cut- 
throats that  we  are! — actually  begin  to -believe 
that  we  are  the  chosen  favorites,  the  holy  in- 
struments of  the  Lord.  Thus  the  whole  army  be- 
lieves, heathens  as  well  as  Christians,  that  the 
spring  in  the  desert  gushed  forth  for  us  miracu- 
lously, by  God’s  command.  So  also  both  oiir 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  333 

soldiers  and  the  Carthaginians  place  faith  in  a so- 
called  “miracle of  the  lamps,”  an  account  of  which 
I will  give  you.  ^ 

The  greatest  saint  of  the  Carthaginians  is  St. 
Cyprian,  who  has  more  than  half  a dozen  basili- 
cas and  chapels,  in  all  of  which  his  holy-days  are 
ostentatiously  celebrated.  But  the  Vandals  took 
away  almost  all  the  churches  from  the  Catholics 
and  turned  them  over  to  the  Arians.  Among 
these  was  the  great  Basilica  of  St.  Cyprian^down 
by  the  harbor,  out  of  which  they  drove  the  Catho- 
lic priests  with  contempt  and  abuse.  The  loss  of 
this  cathedral  caused  the  deepest  grief  to  the  or- 
thodox believers.  It  is  stated  that  St.  Cyprian 
repeatedly  appeared  to  the  pious  in  their  dreams, 
comforting  them  and  announcing  that  he  would 
ultimately  avenge  himself  on  the  Vandals  for  the 
injury  they  had  done  him.  I consider  that  not 
altogether  praiseworthy  in  the  great  saint ; we 
.poor  sinners  on  the  earth  are  taught  that  we  must 
forgive  our  enemies,  and  yet  the  angry  saint  above 
can  wreak  his  revengeful  anger  and  still  remain 
the  holy  Cyprian  ! The  pious,  strengthened  and 
justified  in  their  desire  for  revenge  by  the  senti- 
ments of  their  most  cherished  saint,  waited  for  a 
long  time  eagerly  and  anxiously  to  see  what  blow 
St.  Cyprian  would  strike  against  the  heretics, 


334  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

Within  the  last  few  days  it  became  manifest.  The* 
“ great  Cyprianic  festival  ” was  at  hand  ; it  occurred 
upon  the  day  after  the  fight  at  Decimum.  The 
Arian  priests  had  on  the  very  day  of  the  battle 
decorated  the  church  most  magnificently,  and  had 
arranged  many  thousands  of  small  lamps  to  pro- 
duce by  night  a brilliant  illumination  in  honor  of 
their  expected  victory.  At  the  written  command 
of  the  Archdeacon  Verus — he  had  himself  accom- 
panied the  king  into  the,, field — all  the  rich  vessels 
and  treasures  of  the  church  were  brought  forth 
from  secret  places  of  deposit,  known  only  to  Verus, 
and  placed  upon  the  seven  altars  of  the  basilica. 
Never  would  these  undreamed-of  treasures  have 
been  found  in  the  vaults  of  the  church  had  not 
Verus  sent  the  directions  and  the  keys.  It  hap^ 
pened,  however,  that  we,  not  the  Vandals,  were 
the  victors  at  Decimum.  Upon  receipt  of  this 
news  the  Arian  priests  fled  headlong  from  the 
city.  The  Catholics  poured  into  the  basilica,  dis- 
covered the  treasures  of  the  heretics,  and  lighted 
the  heterodox  lamps  to  celebrate  the  orthodox 
victory.  “ This  is  the  revenge  of  St/Cyprian  ! This 
is  the  miracle  of  the  lamps!”  Thus  they  howl 
through  the  streets,  and  cuff  and  thump  every 
doubter  until  he  believes  it  too  and  joins  them  in 
the  cry:  “Yes,  indeed,  this  is  the  revenge  and  the 
lamp-miracle  of  St.  Cyprian !” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


335 


Now  I have  no  objection  whatever  to  a genuine 
miracle.  On  the  contrary,  I am  delighted  when 
something  occurs  which  the  all-explaining  philoso- 
phers, who  have  tormented  me  so  long,  cannot 
explain.  But  it  must  be  an  actual,  an  indisputa- 
ble miracle.  This  affair,  however,  is  by  no  means 
inexplicable  under  the  natural  order  of  things. 
How,  then,  can  it  be  a miracle  at  all?  Belisarius 
undertook  to  reprove  me  for  my  sceptical  derision, 
but  I merely  replied  that  St.  Cyprian  appears  to 
be  the  patron-saint  of  lamp-lighters,  and  I do  not 
belong  to  the  craft. 


Fara  the  Herulian  obtained  the  handsomest 
piece  of  booty  at  Decimum.  He  received,  it  is 
true,  from  the  nobleman  a rough  spear-thrust 
through  his  brazen*  shield  into  his  arm.  But  the 
shield  did  its  duty  well,  and  the  spear-point  did 
not  penetrate  very  far  into  the  flesh.  When  he 
went  up  to  the  adjacent  villa  and  was  about  to 
burst  open  the  door,  suddenly  it  was  opened  from 
within,  and  a wonderfully  beautiful  woman,  richly 
adorned  with  jewels  and  with  deep-red  flowers  in 
her  black  hair,  advanced  to  meet  him.  She  held 
out  to  him  a wreath  of  laurel  and  pomegranate 
leaves. 

“ Whom  have  you  been  expecting?’'  asked  the 
astonished  Herulian. 


336  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ The  victor,”  the  fascinating  creature  answer- 
ed. A tolerably  oracular  response  ! 'This 
sphinx  would,  without  doubt,  just  as  willingly 
have  given  her  wreath  and  herself  to  the  Vandals, 
if  they  had  been  successful.  And,  in  fact,  what 
matters  it  to  a Carthaginian  woman  whether  Van- 
dals or  Byzantines  conquer  ? She  is  the  prey  of 
the  stronger,  of  the  conqueror— perhaps,  indeed,  to 
his  destruction.  But  I fancy  this  time  the  sphinx 
has  found  her  CEdipus.  If  one  of  this  singularly 
matched  pair  is  destined  to  come  to  grief,  it  is 
hardly  likely  to  be  my  friend  Fara.  He  sets 
some  value  upon  me  because  I can  read  and  write 
— and  so  he  introduced  me  to  her.  Evidently  he 
had  boasted  considerably  about  me,  but  the  re- 
sult was  scarcely  flattering.  She  surveyed  me 
from  head  to  foot  and  from  foot  to  head — no 
very  long  task,  for  I am  not  tall — and,  with  a con- 
temptuous curl  of  her  full,  voluptuous  lips,  deliber- 
ately turned  and  walked  away.  I will  not  main- 
tain that  I am  handsome,  while,  after  Belisarius, 
Fara  is  the  most  personable  man  of  us  all.  But 
it  irritated  me  that  she  found  the  mortal  part  of 
my  being  so  unattractive  that  she  did  not  care  to 
become  acquainted  with  the  immortal.  I am 
provoked  at  her.  I wish  her  no  harm.  But  it 
would  neither  astonish  me  nor  deeply  grieve  me 
if  she  should  come  to  a bad  end. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


337 


XXXIV. 

BELISARIUS  keeps  the  people  at  work  day  and 
night  repairing  the  walls.  Besides  the  entire  army 
and  the  sailors  from  the  fleet,  he  has  pressed 
the  citizens  into  this  service.  They  are  begin- 
ning to- murmur.  They  supposed  that  we  came 
here  to  free  them,  and  now  we  force  them  to  hard- 
er drudgery  than  Gelimer  ever  exacted. 

The  city  walls  in  their  wide  circuit  show  so 
many  gaps  and  weak  places  that  we  see  now  the 
reason  why  the  king,  after  his  lost  battle,  did  not 
retreat  to  his  capital.  Verus,  who  has  great  in- 
fluence in  temporal  matters  also  with  the  tyrant 
— for  so,  according  to  Justinian’s  command,  we 
must  call  the  champion  of  his  people’s  independ- 
ence— is  said  in  the  beginning  to  have  advised 
the  Vandals  to  shut  themselves  up  in  Carthage 
and  to  suffer  themselves  to  be  besieged  by  us. 
If  that  is  so,  then  the  priest  understands — as  is 
natural — more  about  lanterns  than  about  war. 
On  the  very  first  night,  our  general  thinks,  we 
would  have  slipped  in  through  some  breach  ; 
especially*  as  many  thousands  of  Carthaginians 
stood  ready  to  show  us  where  the  breaches  were. 
And  we  would  have  caught  the  whole  Vandal 
power  at  one  stroke,  as  if  in  a mouse-trap, 


338  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA  HEALS 

while  now  we  are  compelled  to  seek  out  our 
enemy  in  the  desert. 

The  goddess  Fortune  is  the  only  woman  in 
whom  I am  disposed  sometimes  to  believe.  Per- 
haps, too,  I might  add  Folly.  Folly  and  Fortune — 
to,  you  all-powerful  sisters,  and  not  to  St.  Cyprian, 
ought  we  to  light  thanksgiving  lanterns ! The 
goddess  of  Fortune  seems  never  to  weary  of  play- 
ing ball  with  the  fate  of  the  Vandals;  but  she 
could  not  do  it  had  not  Folly  placed  this  ball  in 
her  hands. 

Yesterday  a small  sail-boat  from  the  north  ran 
into  the  harbor.  From  its  mast  floated  the  blood- 
red  Vandal  flag.  Pounced  upon  suddenly  by  our 
sentry-boats,  which  lay  invisible  behind  the  har- 
bor wall,  the  Vandals  on  board  were  frightened 
almost  to  death.  They  had  no  suspicion  what- 
ever that  their  capital  had  fallen.  They  came 
straight  from  Sardinia.  To  send  thither  their 
fleet  and  the  flower  of  their  army,  when  our  ex- 
pedition had  already  reached  Sicily — that  was  an 
act  to  which  they  could  have  been^  persuaded 
only  by  Folly.  On  the  shipmaster  was  found  a 
letter  which  runs  as  follows  : “ Hail  to  you  and 

victory,  King  of  the  Vandals  ! Where  now  are 
your  gloomy  forebodings  ? Our  victory  is  com- 


THE  LAST  OP  THE  VANDALS.  339 

plete.  We  landed  near  Karalis,  the  capital  of 
Sardinia.  We  have  taken  the  harbor,  the  city, 
the  capitol.  The  traitor  Goda  fell  by  my  spear ; 
his  army  is  either  slain  or  captured  ; the  whole 
island  is  once  more  yours.  Celebrate  a feast  of 
victory,  for  this  is  but  the  forerunner  of  the 
great  day  when  you  will  crush  the  insolent 
enemy,  who,  we  have  just  heard,  is  really  sail- 
ing towards  our  coast.  Not  one  of  them  shall  re- 
turn from  our  Africa.  Such  is  the  message  of 
Zaro,  your  faithful  general  and  brother.” 

That  was  yesterday.  And  to-day  another  of 
our  cruisers  brought  into  the  harbor  a Vandal 
despatch-boat,  captured  on  the  way  to  Sardinia. 
On  board  was  a messenger  from  Gelimer  with  the 
following  letter  : “ It  was  not  Goda  that  decoyed 
us  to  Sardinia,  but  some  demon  in  Goda's  form,  a 
demon  to  whom  God  has  granted  permission 
to  destroy  us.  You  did  not  set  forth  that  we 
might  reconquer  Sardinia,  but  that  our  enemies 
might  win  from  us  Africa.  That  was  the  will  of 
Heaven  when  it  ordained  your  voyage.  Scarcely 
had  you  sailed,  when  Belisarius  landed.  His 
army  is  small,  but  heroism  and  fortune  have  alike 
abandoned  our  people.  Our  nation  has  no 
guiding  star,  its  king  no  judgment.  The  vehe^ 
mence  of  one  or  the  we^k  heart  of  another  ruins 


340  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

even  well-devised  plans.  Ammata,  the  darling  of 
us  all,  has  fallen,  the  faithful  Thrasaric  has  fallen, 
Gibamund  has  been  wounded,  our  army  badly  de- 
feated at  Decimum.  Our  ship-yards,  our  ports, 
our  armories,  are  in  the  enemy’s  hands.  Car- 
thage itself  is  theirs.  But  the  Vandals  whom  I 
still  hold  together  are  dazed  by  this  first  disaster; 
they  cannot  be  roused,  although  everything  is  at 
stake.  The  short-lived  impulse  to  action  has 
died  out  in  almost  all  of  them.  It  is  shameful 
to  say  that  more  fitness  for  war  than  in  the  whole 
of  our  disheartened  army  exists  at  the  present 
time  in  the  twelve  thousand  Moorish  mercena- 
ries whom  I have  enlisted  at  great  cost  and  have 
placed  as  a reserve  in  a strong  camp  at  Bulla.  If 
these  also  should  fail  me,  then  all  would  be  at  an 
end.  Our  only  hope  now  rests  in  you  and  your 
return.  Never  mind  Sardinia  and  the  punish- 
ment of  the  rebel ; hasten  hither  with  your  whole 
fleet.  But,  of  course,  do  not  land  near  Carthage, 
but  far  to  the  west,  somewhere  about  the  bound- 
ary line  between  Mauretania  and  Numidia.  Let 
us  together  avert  the  threatened  ruin  or  share  it 
in  common.  v Geli^er.” 

The  despatches  of  the  brothers  cross  each 
other,  and  both  fall  into  our  hands  ! The  king 
will  wait  for  his  fleet  in^vain  in  the  west ! Anc) 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  341 

now,  fair  goddess  Fortune,  inflate  your  cheeks, 
blow  in  the  sails  of  the  Vandal  ships,  and  bring 
them  all  in  good  shape,  together  with  their  vic- 
torious army,  here  into  the  harbor  of  Carthage — 
right  into  our  clutches  ! 


The  goddess  Fortune  is  also  a woman  like  the 
rest.  Suddenly  she  turns  her  back  to  us — at  least 
a little — and  makes  eyes  at  the  blond-heads.  I 
have  a good  mind  to  renew  my  allegiance  to  the 
saint  of  the  lamps. 

The  tyrant  is  gaining  ground.  How  ? Through 
his  amiability  and  goodness  of  heart,  the  peo- 
ple say.  He  is  winning  over  the  country-people  ; 
not  the  Moors,  but: — hear  it  and  help  us,  St.  Cyp- 
rian ! — the  Romans,  the  Catholics.  He  is  draw- 
ing them  away  from  us  to  his  side.  He  main- 
tains strict  discipline,  while  our  Huns  rob,  pillage, 
and  steal,  except  when  in  the  presence  of  Beli- 
sarius — or  when  they  are  asleep:  but  even  then,  I 
fancy,  they  dream  about  plundering.  And  so  the 
liberated  peasants  flee  in  troops  before  their  lib- 
erators and  into  the  camp  of  the  barbarian  king, 
preferring  the  Vandals  to  the  Huns.  They  con- 
spire together,  attack  our  scattered  heroes  while 
pillaging, — mostly  camp-followers,  it  is  true, — cut 
off  the  heathen,  yes,  in  some  cases,  even  orthodox 


342  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS 

heads  and  exchange  them  with  the  tyrant  for  a 
heretic  gold-piece.  That  perhaps  in  itself  would 
not  be  so  very  bad,  but  the  peasants  serve  the 
Vandal  as  spies  and  informers ; they  betray  to 
him  all  that  he  wishes  • to  know,  provided,  of 
course,  they  know  it  themselves.'  No  doubt  his 
goodness  of  heart  is  all  hypocrisy.  But  it  helps, 
better  perhaps  than  if  it  were  genuine. 


I am  almost  sorry  for  her,  the  sphinx.  She 
was  so  wondrously  beautiful ! What  a pity  it 
was,  though,  that  she  did  not  take  the  form  of 
some  beast,  rather  than  that  of  a woman  ! Fara 
found  out  that  she  was  disposed  to  look  with 
favor  also  upon  Althias,  the  Thracian,  and  Aigan, 
the  Hun.  In  the  beginning  the  three  heroes 
came  near  fighting  to  the  death  for  the  possession 
of  this  marvellous  creature.  But  this  time  the 
Hun  was  wiser  than  the  German  and  the  Thra- 
cian. At  his  proposition  they  decided  to  share 
the  woman  equally  between  them  in  brotherly 
fashion,  so  they  strapped  her  upon  a board  and 
with  a couple  of  strokes  with  an  axe  divided  her 
into  three  pieces.  Fara  received  the  head,  as  was 
reasonable,  for  he  had  the  most  right  to  her. 
For  when  she  perceived  that  he  suspected  her, 
she  sought  to  appease  him  with  a choice  sped- 


343 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

men  of  fruit,  which  she  picked  fresh  from  a tree. 
But  she  had  overlooked  the  fact  that  Fara,  the 
Herulian  and  heathen,  is  much  fonder  of  horse- 
flesh than  of  peaches.  He  gave  the  fruit  to  her 
monkey  ; it  bit  into  it,  shook  itself,  and  fell  over 
dead.  That  vexed  the  German.  And  he  did  not 
rest  until  he  had  brought  to  light  all  the  riddles 
of  this  many-sided  sphinx,  including  her  natural 
and  inherent  faithlessness.  Then  they  divided, 
as  I have  said,  her  beautiful  form  into  three  parts. 
I advised  them  to  bury  the  body  right  deep ; 
otherwise  flames  might  flash  forth  at  night  from 
her  grave. 

A slight  rebuff. 

Belisarius  complained  that  he  knew  too  little 
about  the  enemy.  So  he  sent  out  one  of  his  best 
guardsmen,  Diogenes,  to  the  southwest  with  a 
small  force  to  obtain  news. 

They  passed  the  night  in  a village.  The  peas- 
ants swore  that  there  were  no  Vandals  within 
two  days’  march.  Our  soldiers  slept  in  the  best 
house,  in  the  upper  story.  To  be  sure,  before 
retiring  they  had  spent  some  time  below  the 
ground-floor — that  is,  in  the  cellar.  They  did 
not  station  guards.  Why  should  they  ? Are 
they  not  the  liberators  of  the  peasants?  That 
our  heroes  drank  up  all  the  villagers’  wine,  slaugh- 


344  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

tered  their  cattle,  insulted  their  wives,  has  no 
bearing  on  the  subject.  It  is  for  such  things 
peasants  are  made. 

Soon  all  were  snoring  ; Diogenes  louder  than 
the  rest.  The  night  passed  on.  Then  from  the 
immediate  neighborhood  the  peasants  brought 
the  Vandals,  who  surrounded  the  house.  But 
the  holy  Cyprian  is  stronger  than  the  soundest 
drunken  sleep.  He  caused  a sword  to  fall  upon 
a metal  shield  below,  and  awoke — now  that  is  a 
miracle  which  I can  believe  in,  for  no  mortal  man 
could  have  done  it — and  awoke  thereby  one  of 
the  sleepers.  Under  cover  of  the  night  most  of 
our  men  succeeded  in  escaping.  Diogenes  him- 
self came  back  with  three  wounds  in  his  throat 
and  face,  without  the  little  finger  of  his  sword- 
hand,  and  without  any  useful  intelligence. 

The  goddess  Fortune  is  blowing  the  wrong 
way.  The  Vandal  fleet  has  not  yet  sailed  into 
Carthage  and  into  our  skilfully-set  trap. 


The  tyrant  seems  to  have  aroused  his  army 
from  its  stupor.  Our  advance-posts,  horsemen 
whom  we  sent  out  around  the  city,  bring  the 
news  that  “ vast  clouds  of  dust  are  rising  from  the 
southwest.  Nothing  less  than  an  approaching 
army  can  be  concealed  therein/'  they  say. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 345 

No  Zaro.  Has  lie,  in  spite  "of  the  capture  of 
that  letter,  gotten  wind  of  the  true  situation  and 
chosen  another  landing-place? 

Without  doubt  the  Vandals  are  hidden  behind 
yonder  clouds  of  dust.  Our  Herulians  have 
caught  a couple  of  peasants — we  are  already  so 
well  known  in  the  nearly  freed  Africa  that  the 
peasants  have  to  be  caught  by  their  deliverers,  in 
case  we  wish  to  get  sight  of  them.  They  seek 
refuge  from  freedom  with  the  barbarians!  The 
prisoners  say  that  the  king  is  in  full  march  against 
us.  He  caused  a Vandal  noble  who  had  kid- 
napped the  wife  of  a colonist  to  be  hanged  at  the 
door  of  the  colonist's  house,  and  the  shield-bearer 
of  this  same  noble,  who  had  stolen  three  of  the 
colonist’s  geese,  to  be  hanged  on  the  stable  door, 
not  far  from  his  master.  Singular,  isn’t  it?  But 
this  seems  to  please  the  peasants,  Compensat- 
ing justice,”  Aristotle  calls  it..  And  this  wonder- 
ful Vandal  hero  is  said  to  have  paid  not  less  at- 
tention to  philosophy  than  to  spear-casting. 

Belisarius  has  urgently  appealed  to  Byzantium 
for  the  pay  long  since  due  the  Huns.  These  are 
getting  troublesome.  It  is  now  six  months  since 
we  left  Byzantium — it  is  December.  Storms  rage 
from  the  desert  over  Carthage  and  out  upon  the 
gray  sea,  which  has  lost  its  beautiful  blue  polor, 


346  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

The  Huns  threaten  to  leave  our  service.  They 
excuse  their  pillaging  because  the  citizens  of 
Carthage  and  the  peasants  alike  refuse  to  give 
credit  either  to  them  or  to  the  emperor.  They 
cannot  pay,  they  say,  with  the  money  due  them, 
since  it  remains  at  Byzantium.  To-day  a ship 
came  from  the  imperial  city.  It  brought  not  a 
solidus  in  money,  but  about  thirty  tax-collectors 
and  the  command  to  transmit  the  first  taxes  from 
the  conquered  province. 

If  King  Gelimer  hangs  people,  so  do  we.  But 
we  hang — Romans,  not  Vandals.  The  ill-will 
towards  us  is  no  longer  confined  to  the  peasants ; 
it  is  brewing  here  in  Carthage  under  our  very 
eyes.  The  humbler  classes,  especially  the  artisans 
and  small  shop-keepers,  whom  the  rule  of  the  bar- 
barians did  not  ..press  upon  so  heavily  as  upon  the 
rich  senators,  are  becoming  disaffected.  A con- 
spiracy has  been  discovered.  Gelimer’s  army  is 
posted  not  far  from  the  western,  or  Numidian, 
gate.  His  horsemen  ride  up  by  night  as  far  as  the 
walls  of  the  suburb  Atlas.  The  plot  was  to  Jet 
in  the  Vandals  at  night  through  the  unfinished 
walls  of  the  lower  city.  Belisarius  had  Laurus 
and  Victor,  two  Carthaginian  citizens,  convicted 
of  taking  part  in  this  conspiracy,  hanged  upon  a 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA JVDALS.  347 

hill  in  front  of  the  Numidian  gate.  Our  general 
likes  to  set  up  his  gallows  upon  a hill.  His  ad- 
ministration of  justice  can  be  seen  from  afar, 
swinging  in  the  wind.  But  Bellsarius  does  not 
dare,  while  the  citizens  are  in  this  humor,  to  leave 
the  city  exposed  and  to  lead  out  the  army.  At 
least  the  walls  must  be  finished  first.  The  citizens 
are  now  compelled  to  work  at  them  night  and 
day;  and  this  displeases  them  greatly. 

Still  no  Zaro ! And  the  Huns  are  in  almost 
open  mutiny.  They  declare  they  will  not  fight 
in  the  next  battle ; they  would  get  no  pay  for  it 
anyhow,  and  they  have  been  enticed  here  over 
the  sea  contrary  to  the  terms  of  their  enlist- 
ment. Besides,  they  fear  that  after  the  conquest 
of  the  Vandals  they  will  be  left  here  as  a garrison 
and  will  never  again  see  their  homes.  Belisarius 
has  been  looking  around  for  a suitable  hill.  But 
he  has  as  yet  found  none  that  is  big  enough. 
There  are  too  many  of  the  Huns,  and  we  others 
are — on  the  whole — too  few.  Besides,  we  reckon 
them  among  our  best  soldiers.  Consequently,  our 
general,  who  only  yesterday  wrot£  out  an  order 
for  the  hanging  of  their  leaders,  to-day  invited 
them  all  to  his  table.  That  is  the  greatest  pleas- 
ure and  honor  that  can  be  conferred  upon  them — 


348  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS \ 

a less  one  for  us  old  comrades  of  Belisarius ! He 
praised  them  and  proposed  their  health.  Then 
in  a short  time  they  were  all  drunk  and  perfectly 
satisfied. 


They  have  slept  it  off,  and  now  again  they  are 
more  discontented  than  before — and  still  thirstier. 
Wine  there  is  in  plenty.  But  for  the  last  three 
hours  no  water.  The  Vandals  have  broken  down 
the  great  aqueduct  before  the  Numidian  gate. 
The  Huns  can  do  without  water — easily  enough  ! 
— but  not  we,  nor  the  horses,  the  camels  and  the 
Carthaginians.  The  king,  therefore,  forces  mat- 
ters to  a decision,  to  a. battle.  He  cannot  reduce 
the  city  by  a siege,  since  we  command  the  sea. 
Nor  can  he  any  longer  take  it  by  storm,  for  at  last 
the  fortifications  are  completed  in  accordance  with 
the  plans  of  Belisarius.  He  seeks,  therefore,  a 
contest  in  the  open  field.  His  comb — or  that 
of  his  “ dazed  army” — must  have  stiffened  wonder- 
fully since  that  desponding  letter. 

Belisarius  has  no  choice ; early  to-morrow  he 
will  lead  us  out  against  the  enemy.  He  is  anxious 
about  the  ‘Huns  and  fears  they  have  some  evil 
design.  He  has  commissioned  Fara  to  keep  his 
eyes  sharply  upon  them.  As  the  fate  of  the  bat- 
tle vacillates,  the  Huns  will  vacillate  with  it.  And 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA NDALS.  349 

we  are  likely  to  see  in  front  a fight  between 
Byzantines  and  Vandals,  and  in  the  rear  a fight 
between  Herulians  and  Huns.  That  might  prove 
interesting!  But  it  is  just  this  anxiety,  this 
charm  of  danger,  that  attracts  me  into  Belisarius’s 
service..  Better  a Vandal  dart  in  my  head  than 
the  philosophy  over  which  I have  studied  myself 
sick. — Well,  then,  to-morrow! 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

On  the  following  day  Belisarius,  having  first 
once  more  inspected  the  new  fortifications  of 
Carthage  and  having  decided  that  they  would  be 
sufficient,  in  case  of  a reverse,  to  protect  his  army 
and  defy  a siege,  sent  forth  from  the  gates  against 
the  enemy  all  the  cavalry  except  five, hundred 
picked  Illyrians.  To  the  Thracian  Althias  he 
assigned  the  select  troop  of  shield-bearers  and  the 
imperial  standard  ; he  was  not  to  decline  a fight 
with  the  Vandal  outposts,  but  rather  to  bring  it 
on. 

✓ 

The  general  himself  followed  on  the  next  day 
with  the  infantry  and  the  five  hundred  Illyrian 
cavalry.  Only  the  guards  that  were  indispensable 
for  the  gates,  towers,  and  walls  remained  behind. 

At  Tricameron,  about  seventeen  Roman  miles 


350  THE  last  of  the  vandals. 

west  of  Qirthage,  Althias  came  upon  the  enemy. 
The  foremost  ranks  of  both  parties  exchanged  a 
few  darts,  and  returned  with  the  announcement 
to  their  respective  armies.  The  Byzantines  en- 
camped where  they  stood,  and  not  far  from  them 
burned  the  countless  watch-fires  of  the  Vandals. 
Between  the  two  armies  ran  a small  brook.  The 
entire  region  was  flat  and  unwooded.  Only  upon 
the  left  wing  of  the  Romans,  and  very  close  to 
the  brook,  a hill  of  moderate  height  rose  out  of 
the  sand. 

Without  waiting  for  the  command  or  the  per- 
mission of  Althias,  as  soon  as  he  heard  that  the 
campwould  be  pitched  here  and  the  battle  fought 
on  the  next  day,  Aigan,  the  chief  leader  of  the 
Huns,  sprang  forward  to  the  hill.  He  was  fol- 
lowed at  once  by  the  whole  swarm  of  his  country- 
men. Then  they  sent  word  to  Althias  that  the 
Huns  would  encamp  there  for  the  night,  and 
would  take  their  position  for  the  battle  in  the 
morning.  Althias  took  care  not  to  forbid  what 
he  could  not  prevent  without  bloodshed.  But  the 
hill  commanded  the  whole  region. 

Later  in  the  night  the  leaders  of  the  Huns  con- 
ferred together  upon  the  summit. 

“No  spy  about  ?”  asked  Aigan.  “This  prince 
of  the  Heruli  does  not  withdraw  from  our  neigh- 
borhood.M 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  35 1 

“ I did  what  you  directed.  Seventy  Huns  lie 
on  the  watch  in  a circle  around  our  position.  Not 
even  a bird  can  fly  over  them  unnoticed/’ 

“ What  are  we  to  do  to-morrow  ?”  asked  the 
third,  leaning  on  the  shoulder  of  his  horse  and 
stroking  his  shaggy  mane.  “ I place  no  further 
trust  in  the  words  of  Belisarius.  He  is  deceiving 
us.” 

“ Belisarius  does  not  deceive  us.  His  master 
deceives  him.” 

“ I saw,”  began  the  second  anxiously,  “ a singu- 
lar sign.  Just  as  it  grew -completely  dark,  there 
flashed  forth  blue  flames  from  the  spear-points  of 
the  Romans.  What  can  that  signify  ?” 

“That  signifies  victory,”  answered  the  third 
Hun,  considerably  agitated.  “One  of  my  ances- 
tors saw  it  himself — and  the  story  has  been  handed 
down  from  generation  to  generation— on  the 
night  before  the  fearful  battle  in  Gaul,  when  the 
scourge  of  great  Atta  was  broken.” 

“ Atta  in  the  clouds,  great  Atta,  be  propitious 
to  us !”  whispered  all  three,  bending  low  towards 
the  east. 

“ My  ancestor  stood  on  guard  there,  on  that 
dark  night,  beside  the  rushing  river.  On  the 
other  side  two  men  rode  up,  examining  the 
ground,  their  spears  across  the  shoulder.  My 


352  the  last  of  the  va heals. 

ancestor  and  his  companions  glided  into  the  tall 
rushes  and  drew  their  bows  that  never  failed. 
They  took  good  aim.” 

“‘See,  ^Etius,”  exclaimed  one,  “your  spear  is 
tipped  with  flame  P 

“‘And  yours  also,  king  of  the  Visigoths!’  re- 
plied the  other. 

“Our  ancestors  looked  up,  and  truly  a pale-blue 
flame  was  playing  around  the  spear-heads  of  their- 
adversaries.  Then  our  people  fled  in  terror,  not 
daring  to  shoot  against  those  whom  the  gods 
were  protecting.  And  on  the  next  day  Atta 
was — ” 

“ Atta,  Atta,  be  not  angry  with  us  !”  they  cried 
again  with  trembling  voices,  as  they  gazed  up  at 
the  clouds. 

“ What  at  that  time  betokened  victory  for  the 
Germans  and  disaster  to  their  foes,”  said  Aigan, 
mistrustfully,  “ may  now  again  signify  the  same 
thing.  We  will  await  the  issue.  To  whichever 
side  the  victory  inclines,  we  will  incline  too.  For 
this  reason  I have  selected  this  hill  for  our  posi- 
tion. From  here  we  can  clearly  see  the  course  of 
the  battle.  Either  straight  down  across  the 
brook  upon  the  left  wing  of  the  Vandals — ” 

“ Or  to  the  right  upon  the  Roman  centre — like 
a whirlwind  !* 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, . 353 

“ I should  prefer  to  plunder  the  Vandal  camp. 
It  is  said  to  be  full  of  yellow  gold.” 

“ And  handsome  women.” 

“ But  there  is  still  more  gold  in  Carthage  than 
the  Vandal  king  has  in  his  tents.” 

“ The  best  of  it  is  that  the  result  will  probably 
be  decided  before  the  Byzantine  lion  comes  up.” 

“ You  are  right.  I should  not  like  to  spur  my 
horse  against  the  flash  of  his  angry  eye.” 

“■Patience!  Wait  quietly.  In  whichever  di- 
rection I shoot  my  arrow,  thither  we  will  charge. 
And  Atta  will  hover  in  the  air  above  his  chil- 
dren !”  He  took  off  his  thick,  black  woollen  cap, 
threw  it  in  the  air  and  softly  sang : 

“ Atta,  Atta,  give  us  booty, 

Booty  for  thy  faithful  children— 

Yellow  gold  and  shining  silver, 

And  the  red  blood  of  the  vintage. 

And  our  foemen’s  fairest  women.” 

All  with  uncovered  heads  repeated  these  words 
reverently  and  with  deep  fervor.  Then  Aigan  put 
on  again  his  helmet-like  cap,  and  without  further 
parley  they  separated. 


XXXVI. 

In  the  camp  of  the  Vandals,  on  the  left  bank  of 
the  brook,  the  great  banner  of  Geiseric  floated 


354  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

above  the  royal  tent,  its  folds  gently  rising  and 
falling  in  the  night-wind.  In  a somewhat  smaller 
tent,  on  one  side,  Gibamund  and  Hilda  sat,  hand 
in  hand,  upon  a couch,  the  table  before  them 
covered  with  Gibamund’s  armor  and  weapons. 
The  lamp  hanging  down  from  above  cast  a feeble 
light  which  was  reflected  from  the  bright  met&K 
By  the  side  of  these  polished  arms  lay  a small 
black  leather  case,  containing  a dagger  with  a 
handsome  handle  of  curious  workmanship. 

“ It  has  been  hard  for  me,”  said  Gibamund^ 
springing  up  impatiently,  “ to  submit  to  the 
king's  orders  and  to  assume  the  command  to-day 
in  the  camp  until  his  return.  The  anxiety,  the 
suspense,  is  too  great.” 

“ Suppose  the  Moors  should  fail  us!  How 
many  are  there,  did  you  say?” 

“ Twelve  thousand.  They  ought  to  have  been 
here  day  before  yesterday,  had  they  hastened 
forward,  according  to  agreement,  from  Bulla.  In 
vain  did  the  king  send  messenger  after  messenger 
to  hurry  their  advance.  Finally,  full  of  impa- 
tience, he  went  out  himself  along  the  Numidian 
road  to  meet  them.  For  if  the  twelve  thousand 
infantry  fail  us  to-morrow — they  are  to  form  our 
entire  left  wing — then  our  position  here  will  be 
untenable.  Hark ! that  is  the  horn  of  the  camp- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  355 

watch ! The  king  must  have  returned.  I will 
inquire.” 

But  already  steps  and  the  clatter  of  arms  were 
heard  approaching.  Both  Gibamund  and  Hilda 
sprang  up  and  hastened  to  the  entrance  of  the 
tent.  The  curtains  were  thrust  aside  from  without, 
and  before  them,  his  massive  helmet  on  his  head, 
stood— Zaro. 

“ You,  brother?” 

“ You  back,  Zaro  ! 9 Oh,  now  all  is  well !” 

More  earnest,  more  self-controlled  than  ever 
before,  but  manly  and  undaunted,  the  strong  man 
stood  between  the  two,  clasped  them  both  to  his 
breast,  and  pressed  their  hands.  It  was  a joy,  a 
comfort  to  them  simply  to  look  at  this  loyal,  stead- 
fast brother. 

“ Not  all  is  well,  dear  sister-ki-law,”  he  replied 
solemnly.  “ Ah,  Ammata  ! And  that  whole  day 
at  Decimum  ! I do  not  understand  it,”  he  said, 
with  a shake  of  his  head  ; “ but  much  can  yet  be 
remedied.” 

“How  is  it  that  you  come  so  unexpectedly? 
Have  you  seen  Gelimer?” 

“ He  will  be  here  soon.  He  promised  me.  He 
- — is  praying  in  his  tent — with  Verus.” 

“You  come  from — ” 

“ Sardinia — by  the  shortest  course.  A letter  of 


356  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS , 

the  king  forwarded  by  Verus,  summoning  me  to 
a swift  return  and  warning  me  not  to  land  at  Car- 
thage, miscarried.  But  a second  letter,  sent  by  my 
brother  himself,  reached  me  with  the  full  disastrous 
news.  I landed  at  the  place  appointed,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Bulla  to  take  command  of  the  Moorish 
mercenaries  and  lead  them  here.  I arrived  at 
Bulla  and  found — ” He  stamped  with  his  foot 
angrily  upon  the  ground.  \ 

“ Well,  what  ?” 

“ An  empty  camp.” 

“The  Moors,  then,  were  already  on  the  way* 
hither  ?” 

“ They  had  dispersed.  The  whole  twelve  thou- 
sand had  returned  into  the  desert.” 

“ What?” 

“ The  traitors !” 

“ No,  not  traitors.  They  sent  back  the  money 
which  the  king  had  paid  them.  Cabaon,  their 
oracular  chief,  has  warned  them,  has  forbidden 
them  to  take  part  in  this  contest.  All  followed 
his  advice  except  a few  hundred  people  from  the 
Pappuan  Mountains — ” 

“ The  guest-rite  has  been  exchanged  between 
them  and  Gelimer,  and  in  fact  the  whole  Asding 
line.” 

“ These  followed  us,  led  by  their  chief  Sersaon.” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  357 

“ That  overthrows  the  king’s  entirS  plan  of  bat- 
tle for  to-morrow.’' 

u Well,’-  said  Zaro,  quietly,  “ in  place  of  the 
Moors' he  unexpectedly  has  been  joined  by  the 
troops  under  my  command — not  the  whole  five 
thousand,  but — ” 

“ But  with  you  at  their  head,”  cried  Giba- 
mund. 

“ On  the  Numidian  road  he  met,  first,  my  mes- 
sengers sent  in  advance,  then  my  little  army  and 
myself.  What  a mournful  meeting  ! How  I had 
rejoiced  over  my  victory  ! But  now  ! Gelimer’s 
tears  flowed  fast  as  he  lay  on  my  breast.  And  I my- 
self— OAmmata!  But  no!  Now  it  is  necessary 
to  be  strong  and  calm  and  courageous,  yes,  stern  ; 
for  this  king  is  much  too  soft-hearted.” 

“ Yet,”  observed  Gibamund,  “ he  has  recovered 
from  the  defeat  at  Decimum.  At  the  time  he 
seemed  utterly  crushed.” 

“ Yes,”  muttered  Hilda,  “ more  than  is  permitted 
to  a man.” 

“I  loved  Ammata  not  less  than  he,”  said  Zaro 
with  quivering  lips  ; “ but  to  let  slip  from  his  hands 
the  assured  victory,  merely  to  lament  for  the  boy, 
to  bury  him — ” 

“ That  you  would  not  have  done,  my  Zaro,” 
said  a gentle  voice.  Gelimer  had  entered.  He 


35^  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

spoke  the  words  in  a quiet  tone,  while  the  others 
turned  round  in  embarrassment.  “ Your  censure 
is  deserved,”  he  continued.  “But  I saw  in  his 
death — he  was  the  first  Vandal  who  fell  in  this 
war — a judgment  of  God.  If  the  most  innocent 
of  us  must  perish,  surely  the  punishment  of  God 
rests  upon  us  all  for  the  sins  of  our  fathers.” 

Zaro  shook  his  head  indignantly  and  brought 
his  helmet  down  with  aloud  clang  upon  the  table. 
“ Brother,  brother,  this  morbid  and  fatal  delusion 
can  destroy  you  and  all  your  people.  I am  not 
learned  enough  to  argue  with  you,  but  I,  too,  am 
a Christian,  a sincere  one — no  heathen,  like  our 
beautiful  Hilda  here;  and  I say  to  you — No,  let 
me  finish.  How  that  fearful  word  of  God,  4 ven- 
geance/ is  to  be  interpreted  I know  not,  nor  does 
it  trouble  me  much;  but  this  I do  know:  if  our 
kingdom  is  to  fall,  it  will  fall,  not  on  account  of 
the  sins  of  our  ancestors,  but  by  reason  of  our  own 
errors.  The  sins  of  our  fathers  avenge  themselves 
of  course  ; vice  and  disease  are  inherited.  Grown 
effeminate  themselves,  they  have  begotten  a de- 
generate race,  they  have  handed  down  their  desire 
for  pleasure,  and  nourished  it  in  their  children. 
And  in  other  ways/  also,  the  iniquities  of  our 
parents  are  avenged  on  11s,  but  without  the  inter- 
position of  the  saints.  That  the  Catholics,  per- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  359 

secuted  for  so  many  decades,  turn  to  the  emperor ; 
that  the  Ostrogoths  help  our  enemies  instead  of 
us, — -these  truly  are  punishments  for  the  misdeeds 
of  our  forefathers.  But  for  these  things  God  is  not 
called  upon  to  perform  miracles:  it  would  need  a 
miracle  to  prevent  them.  And  Ammata — was  he 
blameless?  In  disobedience  to  your  express  com- 
mand, he  rushed  into  battle  with  foolhardy  eager- 
ness. And  Thrasaric  ? Instead,  conformably  to  a 
general's  duty,  of  abandoning  the  unruly  boy  to 
his  fate  and  not  attacking  until  Gibamund  had 
reached  the  position  assigned  him,  he  followed  the 
dictates  of  his  own  heart,  and  sought  to  save  the 
one  you  so  passionately  loved.  And—”  He  hesi- 
tated. 

“ And  the  king,”  continued  Gelimer,  “ instead  of 
doing  his  duty,  broke  down  at  the  sight  of  the 
dead  boy.  But  just  ther.e  falls  the  curse,  the  ven- 
geance of  the  Lord.” 

“ By  no  means,”  replied  Zaro.  “ That  also  is 
no  miracle.  That  also  follows  from  the  fact  that 
you  yourself,  O brother — I have  said  it  before — no 
longer  are  a genuine  Vandal.  You  are  sunk,  not 
like  the  people,  in  vice,  but  in  morbid  subtleties. 
And  this,  too,  is  a consequence  af  the  evil-doing 
of  our  fathers;  for  had  you  not,  when  a boy,  wit- 
nessed that  horrible  persecution — But  it  does 


360  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

not  help  us  to  inquire  how  the  past  wreaks  punish- 
ment for  its  guilt  upon  the  present ; it  is  neces- 
sary to-day,  to-morrow,  and  at  all  times,  to  do 
one’s  duty  steadfastly,  faithfully,  and  without  un- 
healthy brooding.  Then  either  we  shall  conquer 
— and  that  will  be  well, — or  we  shall  fall  as  brave 
men — and  that  will  not  be  wholly  an  evil.  We 
can  do  no  more  than  the  duty  required  of  us. 
The  gracious  Lord  in  heaven  will  deal  with  our 
souls  in  His  wisdom  and  mercy.  I do  not  fear 
for  mine,  if  I should  fall  in  battle  for  my  country.” 
“ Oh,”  cried  Hilda,  joyously,  “ that  has  done 
us  good  ! That  was  like  the  fresh  north  wind  that 
drives  away  the  sultry  clouds.” 

Sorrowfully,  but  without  reproach,  Gelimer  re- 
plied : “ Yes,  the  healthy  man  cannot  comprehend 
why  the  sick  do  not  stir  about  and  make  merry. 
I cannot  help  it.  I must  1 brood  over  subtleties,’ 
as  you  term  it.  Yet,”  he  added,  with  a melan- 
choly smile,  “ sometimes  I brood  the  matter  out. 
Sometimes,  in  my  own  way,  I break  through  the 
clouds.  So  I have  now  again  in  fervent  prayer 
found  my  way  to  my  old,  strong  consolation. 
Only  Verus,  my  confessor,  knows  about  these  at- 
tacks, and  for  what  reason  I succeed  in  overcom- 
ing them.  The  right  is  on  my  side.  I am  not  a 
usurper,  as  the  emperor  abusively  calls  me.  The 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  36 1 

murderous  Hilderic  was  justly  deposed.  No 
guilt  in  his  case  attaches  itself  to  me  ; I did  him 
injustice,  and  the  emperor  has  no  wrong  to 
avenge.  That  is  my  hold,  my  support,  and  my 
staff. — Ah,  Verus,  one  never  hears  you  enter.” 
With  hostile  glances  Zaro  surveyed  the  priest. 

“ I come  to  take  you  away,  O king.  There  are 
still  many  written  orders  to  be  prepared.  I must 
also  remind  you  about  the  prisoners — ” 

“ Ah,  yes  ! Hear  me,  Zaro  ; grant  at  length  the 
consent  I have  long  entreated  from  you.  Permit 
me  to  set  free  Hilderic  and  Euages — ” 

“ By  no  means  !”  cried  Zaro,  pacing  with  long 
strides  the  narrow  tent.  “ By  no  means  ! Least 
of  all  on  the  night  before  the  decisive  battle. 
Shall  Belisarius  place  Hilderic  again  upon  the 
throne  of  Carthage,  after  we  have  fallen?  Or 
shall  he,  after  we  have  conquered,  be  kept  con- 
tinually in  Byzantium,  a living  pretext  for  another 
attack  upon  us?  Off  with  the  heads  of  the  mur- 
derers ! Where  are  they  ?” 

“ Here  in  the  camp  and  well  guarded.” 

“ And  the  hostages?” 

“ Together  with  the  son  of  Pudentius,  they 
were  confined  in  Decimum,”  answered  Verus. 
“ After  our  defeat  they  were  set  free  by  the 
victors.” 


362  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


“ That  might  be  repeated  to-morrow/'  said 
Zaro,  excitedly.  “ The  enemy  might  easily,  in  the 
tumult  of  battle*  penetrate  temporarily  into  this 
open  camp.  I demand,  king — ” 

“ Let  it  be  so/'  interrupted  Gelimer.  And  turn- 
ing to  Verus,  he  gave  the  order:  u Let  Hilderic 
and  Euages  be  removed — ” 

“ Whither?” 

“To  a secure  place  where  no  Byzantine  can  set 
them  free.” 

Verus  boWed  and  hastily  withdrew. 

“ I will  follow  you,”  the  king  called  after  him. 
“ Do  not  be  too  bitter  against  me  in  your  hearts,” 
he  said  in  gentle  tones,  turning  to  the  other  three, 
“ you  who  are  sound  in  soul.  I am  like  a tree  that 
has  been  cleft  by  lightning.  But  to-morrow,”  he 
added  with  a changed  voice,  “ to-morrow  I think 
you  will  be  contented  with  me.  Even  you,  exact- 
ing Hilda!  Lend  me  your  harp.  You  will  not 
repent  it.” 

Hilda  brought  it  from  a corner  of  the  tent. 
“ Here.  But  you  know,”  she  said,  smiling,  “ its 
strings  would  break  if  they  should  be  used  to  ac- 
company Latin  verses  designed  for — penitential 
hymns.” 

“ They  will  not  break.  Sleep  well !”  And  the 
king  withdrew  from  the  tent. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  363 

“ This  harp,  made  wholly  of  dark  wood,”  said 
Zaro,  “ I think  I have  seen  before  in  other 
hands.  But  where  ? In  Ravenna,  was  it  not?” 

Hilda  nodded.  “ My  friend  Teia,  my  instructor 
on  the  harp  and  in  the  use  of  weapons,  presented 
it  to  me  as  a marriage-gift.  And  he  has  not  for- 
gotten- me,  noble,  faithful  friend!  In  my  happi- 
ness he  never  communicated  with  me.  But 
now — ” 

“ Well  ?”  asked  Zaro. 

“ As  soon  as  the  first  news  of  our  disaster 
at  Decimum  reached  Ravenna,”  Gibamund  ex- 
plained, “ it  was  reported  that  I — doubtless  I was 
confounded  with  Ammata — had  fallen,  certain 
valiant  men  of  the  Ostrogoths — the  old  master- 
of-arms  Hildebrand,  Teia,  and  several  others 
wanted  to  come  with  a force  of  volunteers  to  our 
assistance.  The  queen-regent  absolutely  forbade 
it.  Then  Teia  sent  my  widow,  as  he  believed  her 
to  be,  this  beautiful  dagger  of  dark  bronze.” 

“ That  is  rare  workmanship,”  said  Zaro,  drawing 
the  blade  and  examining  it.  “ What  a noble 
weapon !” 

“ He  forged  it  himself!”  exclaimed  Hilda,  eager- 
ly. “ See,  here  is  the  monogram  of  his  house  on 
the  handle.” 

*‘And  on  the  blade  an  adage,  engraved  in 


364  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

runes/'  said  Zaro,  taking  it  close  to  the  light  of 
the  lamp.  “ ‘ The  dead  are  free.’  Hm  ! not  over- 
cheerful consolation  ; still  not  too  grave  for  Hilda. 
Preserve  this.” 

“ Yes,”  replied  Hilda,  calmly,  “ the  dagger  in  my 
girdle,  and  the  adage  in  my  mind.” 

“ But,  Hilda,  not  too  soon  !”  said  Zaro,  warning- 
ly,  as  he  left  the  tent. 

“ Have  no  fears,”  she  answered,  throwing  her 
arms  around  her  husband.  “ It  will  be  the 
widow’s  comfort  and  her  weapon.”  * 


XXXVII, 

The  next  day  at  sunrise  a protracted  blast  of 
horns  awoke  the  sleeping  camp  of  the  Vandals. 

Concealed  from  the  eyes  of  the  Romans  by  the 
outermost  row's  of  tents,  the  barbarian  army  was 
marshalled  within  its  own  camp.  On  the  evening 
before,  written  orders  had  been  issued  to  the 
several  leaders,  assigning  each  his  position.  These 
orders  were  now  executed  without  difficulty,  and 
the  people  were  instructed  to  take  their  break- 
fast of  bread  and  wine  where  they  stood. 

The  camp  was  very  long,  but  narrow,  following 
the  course  of  the  little  brook.  Besides  the  soldiers, 
there  were  in  it  many  thousands  of  women, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  365 

children,  and  old  men,  who  had  fled  from  Car- 
thage and  other  districts  occupied  or  threatened 
by  the  enemy. 

Another  blast  of  horns  summoned  the  sub-com- 
manders and  the  leaders  of  a thousand  to  the 
• midst  of  the  camp,  where,  in  a large  and  vacant 
space,  they  found  the  king  and  his  two  brothers 
on  horseback.  Beside  them,  leaning  on  the 
shoulder  of  her  noble  black  steed,  stood  Hilda, 
with  the  shaft  of  an  enwrapped  spear  in  her  hand. 
There  too,  mounted  and  in  full  priest’s  attire,  was 
Verus.  Besides  the  leaders  there  came  also  the 
soldiers  with  whom  Zaro  had  reconquered  Sar- 
dinia. 

Still  another  blast  of  the  horns  rang  through 
the  streets  of  the  camp.  Then,  amid  enthusiastic 
shouts,  Zaro  rode  a few  steps  forward  and  spoke, 
in  a voice  that  was  loud,  clear,  and  resolute: 

“ Hear  me,  army  of  the  Vandals ! We  fight 
to-day,  not  for  victory — we  fight  for  all  that  we 
have,  the  kingdom  of  Geiseric  and  its  glory,  your 
wives  and  children  in  yonder  tents,  who,  if  we 
succumb,  are  slaves.  To-day  it  behooves  us  to 
look  the  enemy  and  to  look  death  straight  in  the 
face.  The  king  has  commanded  that  this  battle 
shall  be  fought  by  the  Vandals  with  the  sword 
alone — not  with  bows  and  arrows,  not  with  jave- 
lins and  spears.  Here  I cast  my  spear  from  me. 


366  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

Do  likewise,  and  with  sword  in  hand  fight  the 
enemy  at  close  quarters.” 

He  let  his  lance  drop,  and  all  his  troopers  did 
the  same.  “ Only  one  spear,”  he  continued,  “ will 
be  carried  to-day  in  the  Vandal  army — this!” 
Hilda  stepped  forward  ; he  took  the  pole  from 
her  hand,  tore  the  wrapping  off,  and  swung  above 
his  head  a great,  waving,  blood-red  banner. 

“ Geiseric’s  banner!  Geiseric’s  Victorious  dra- 
gon !”  shouted  thousands  of  voices. 

“ Follow  this  banner  wheresoever  it  calls  you. 
Let  it  never  come  into  the  enemy’s  hands ! Swear 
to  follow  it  until  death.” 

“ We  will  follow  it  until  death  !” 

“ Good  ! I have  faith  in  you,  Vandals.  Now 
hearken  to  your  king.  You  know  he  has  a special 
talent  for  the  harp  and  for  song.  He  has  arranged 
with  masterly  skill  our  order  of  battle  ; he  has 
also  composed  the  battle-song,  that  shall  carry 
you  forward  and  encourage  you  in  the  fight.” 
Gelimer  threw  back  his  long  purple  mantle, 
took  up  Hilda’s  cfark  triangular  harp,  and  sang  to 
the  music  of  its  melodious  strings: 

“ Forward  now,  Vandals, 

Forward  to  battle ! 

Follow  the  banner, 

The  glory-crowned  banner 
That  leads  us  to  victory  t 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  367 

“ Charge  on  the  foemen  ! 

With  breasts  to  their  breastplates 
Fight  them  and  hurl  them 
Down  in  the  conflict ! 

“ Keep  ever  sacred, 

Brave  men  of  the  Vandals, 

The  kingdom  and  glory 
Our  forefathers  left  us ! 

“ Vengeance  is  arming 
On  high  in  the  heavens. 

And  the  right  will  prevail. 

God  gives  the  victory 
To  the  just  cause  !” 

“ God  gives  the  victory  to  the  just  cause!**  re- 
peatedly enthusiastically  the  Vandal  warriors,  as 
they  separated  and  poured  forth  into  the  streets 
of  the  camp. 

The  king  and  his  brothers  now  dismounted,  to 
hold  a last  brief  council  and  to  refresh  themselves 
with  the  wine  which  Hilda  offered  them. 

Just  as  Gelimer  handed  the  harp  back  to  Hilda 
there  pressed  forward  through  the  dispersing 
throng  of  soldiers  a man  of  strange  and  striking 
appearance. 

The  king  and  his  brothers  gazed  in  astonish- 
ment on  a tall  figure,  enveloped  from  the  head  to 
the  ankles  in  a robe  of  camel’s  hair,  which  was 


36B  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA NEALS. 

held  together  around  the  loins,  not  by  a rope,  but 
by  a girdle  formed  from  braids  of  beautiful  gold- 
en-brown hair.  No  sandals  protected  his  naked 
feet,  no  covering  his  closely-shorn  head.  His 
cheeks  were  sunken,  and  from  their  deep  cavities 
looked  forth  a pair  of  fiery  eyes.  He  threw  him- 
self at  the  feet  of  the  king  and  lifted  his  hands 
imploringly. 

“ By  Heaven!  I know  you,  man,”  spoke  Geli- 
mer. 

“ Yes  ; that  is — ” began  Gibamund. 

“ Thrasabad,  Thrasaric’s  brother,”  said  Zaro. 

“The  one  who  disappeared — the  one  so  long 
supposed  dead  ?”  asked  Hilda,  coming  nearer. 

“Yes,  Thrasabad,”  a hollow  voice  replied — 
“ unhappy  Thrasabad ! I am  a murderer — her 
murderer  ! King,  sentence  me.” 

Gelimer  bent  forward,  took  him  by  the  right 
hand  and  raised  him  from  the  ground.  “ Not  the 
murderer  of  the  poor  Greek!  I heard  the  story 
from  your  brother.” 

“ Just  the  same ! Her  blood  lies  on  my  soul.  I 
felt  that  the  moment  I saw  it  gush  forth.  I placed 
my  poor  victim  upon  a horse  and  galloped  away 
with  her — away  from  the  eyes  of  men  ! On — ever 
on  into  the  desert — until  the  horse  sank  down  ex- 
hausted. Then  with  these  hands — not  far  from 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  369 


here— I buried  her  in  a sand-ravine.  Her  beauti- 
ful hair  I cut  off — how  often  had  I stroked  and 
caressed  it  ! And  ever  since  I have  been  mourn- 
ing and  praying  beside  her  grave.  Pious  monks  of 
the  desert  found  me  there  at  my  vigils,  fasting  and 
nearly  dead.  I confessed  to  them  my  heavy  guilt. 
And  they  promised  me  God's  forgiveness  if,  as  one 
of  their  number,  I would  make  atonement  from 
that  time  on  by  repentance  and  prayer  at  her  grave. 
I promised.  Then  they  gave  me  the  dress  of  their 
order, — I fastened  it  together  with  Glauca’s  hair, 
that  I might  be  constantly  reminded  of  my  guilt, — 
and  brought  my  food  for  me  into  the  lonely  ravine. 
But  when  I learned  of  the  day  at  Decimum  and 
my  brother’s  death,  when  the  conflict  drew  nearer 
and  nearer  to  this  place,  when  both  you  and  the 
enemy  pitched  your  camps  here,  close  beside  my 
hiding-place,  since — for  the  last  two  days — I have 
heard  the  war-horns  of  my  people,  I no  longer 
find  peace  in  solitary  prayers.  I had  once  some 
skill  with  the  sword.  My  whole  heart  longed  to 
follow  the  blast  of  the  battle-horn  once  more — for 
the  last  time!  Ah,  I did  not  dare  — I know  I am 
not  worthy  of  it ! But  last  night  she  appeared  to 
me  in  my  dreams,  her  human  beauty  spiritualized 
into  an  angel’s  radiant  glory,  with  no  trace  of 
earthliness  about  her.  And  she  spoke  : ‘ Go  now 


37<3  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

to  your  brothers-in-arms,  ask  for  a sword,  and 
fight  and  fall  for  your  people — that  is  the  best 
atonement.'  Oh,  believe  me,  my  king!  I do  not 
falsely  use  the  name  of  this  sainted  being.  If  you: 
can  pardon  me,  for  her  sake — oh,  let  me — ” 

Here  Zaro  stepped  forward,  took  the  sword  of 
one  of  his  followers  from  its  sheath,  and  handed 
it  to  the  monk. 

“ Here,  Thrasabad,  Thrasamer's  son,  I take  it 
upon  me  for  the  king.  Do  you  see?  He  has  al- 
ready nodded  assent.  Take  this  sword  and  follow 
me  to  the  battle.  You  will  not,  I think,  need  its  * 
sheath  again. — Now,  King  Gelimer,  let  the  horns 
sound,  and  forward  against  the  foe!" 


XXXVIII. 

The  king,  with  the  keen  eye  of  a general,  liad^ 
perceived  that  the  decisive  struggle  must  take 
place  in  the  centre  of  the  two  armies,  where, 
southwestwardly  to  the  left  and  northeasterly  to 
the  right,  rose  the  slight  elevations  on  which  the 
camps  were  pitched. 

Besides,  it  had  been  announced  by  deserters 
from  the  Huns  that  this  mercenary  contingent 
would  either  take  no  part  in  the  battle  or,  at  least, 
would  be  lukewarm.  Consequently  Gelimer  an- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  371 

ticipated  no  danger  to  his  left  from  the  right  wing 
of  the  Romans. 

His  right  flank  he  drew  back  for  some  distance, 
so  that  the  enemy  would  be  compelled  to  make 
a long  iparch  before  they  could  reach  it — long 
enough,  perhaps,  for  the  issue  to  be  decided  favor- 
ably in  the  centre,  and  the  desertion  and  aid  of 
the  JH.uns  thereby  secured. 

In  the  centre,  therefore,  the  king  placed  the  best 
troops  of  his  army,  almost  all  cavalry,  with  a very 
few  foot-soldiers.  Here  under  their  general's  com- 
mand were  the  nearly  five  thousand  veteran  sol- 
diers of  Zaro  ; here  also  Gibamund  was  stationed 
with  his  devoted  following  of  about  two  hundred 
men  ; here  were  the  two  Gundings  with  their  nu- 
merous kinsmen,  wearing  the  boar-helm  and  bear- 
ing, like  their  chiefs,  boar-emblazoned  shields  ; 
here  was  the  king  himself,  in  the  third  division, 
with  a strong  force  of  cavalry,  to  which  he  had 
added  the  few  faithful  Moors  from  the  Pappuan 
Mountains,  under  their  chief  Sersaon.  The  com- 
mand of  the  wings  he  had  entrusted  to  two  other 
nobles.  Gelimer  himself,  before  the  beginning  of 
the  contest,  rode  along  the  lines,  inspecting  and 
encouraging  the  soldiers. 

The  battle  began,  as  the  king  had  planned, 
with  a complete  surprise  of  the  enemy. 


372  the  last  of  the  vandals . 

While  the  Byzantines  were  busy  with  the  prep- 
aration of  their  morning  meal,  the  king  led  his 
centre  from  behind  the  sheltering  rows  of  tents 
to  the  left  bank  of  the  brook.  This  stream  is  in 
itself  of  so  little  importance  that  the  people  of 
the  vicinity  give  it  no  special  name,  although  it 
never  runs  dry.  The  bank  occupied  by  the  Van- 
dals was  the  higher  of  the  two. 

Belisarius  had  not  yet  come  up,  and  his  'sur- 
prised lieutenants  arranged  their  troops  as  well  as 
the  shortness  of  time  admitted,  each  division  just 
where  it  stood  or  was  encamped.  The  Huns 
held  the  right  wing  of  the  Romans,  occupying 
the  hill,  from  which  they  did  not  move.  Close 
to  them,  in  conformity  to  the  secret  orders, 
Fara  and  the  Herulians  took  their  station,  care- 
fully watching  their  suspected  allies.  Next  to 
these  were  posted,  in  the  centre,  Althias  the 
Thracian,  and  Johannes  the  Armenian,  with  the 
troops  of  their  own  nationalities  and  also  the 
shield-bearers  and  lancers  of  Belisarius’s  body- 
guard/ Here  also  was  the  imperial  standard,  the 
“vexillum  prsetorium/  the  field-banner  of  Beli- 
sarius. 

The  other  auxiliaries  formed  the  left  wing  of 
the  Romans,  for  the  Byzantines  also  saw  that  the 
decisive  contest  would  take  place  between  the 
centres  of  the  two  armies. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  373 

As  Gibamund  rode  forward  on  a white  horse 
at  the  head  of  his  followers,  Hilda,  mounted  on 
her  superb  black  stallion,  accompanied  him. 

At  her  husband’s  wish  she  had  protected  her 
head  by  a light  steel  casque,  above  which  waved 
the  wings  of  the  white  falcon.  From  under  this 
her  light  yellow  hair  streamed  down  freely  upon 
her  neck  and  over  her  white  mantle.  Gibamund 
had  pressed  upon  her  also  a light,  brightly  sil- 
vered shield.  Her  white  undergarment  was  girt 
with  the  black  belt  that  held  Teia’s  dagger,  but 
she  had  declined  to  wear  a breastplate  on  account 
of  its  weight.  “ You  will  not  let  me  fight  with 
you,  you  know,  nor  ride  by  your  side,”  she  la- 
mented. 

“ Stop  here,  my  love,”  commanded  Gibamund, 
as  the  arrows  of  the  Byzantines  began  to  fall 
among  the  Vandals.  “Not  a step  further!  Not 
within  range  of  the  arrows  ! Wait  here,  upon 
this  little  elevation.  I leave  you  ten  of  my  men 
as  a guard.  From  this  spot  you  will  have  an 
excellent  view.  Watch  the  white  heron’s  wings 
on  my  helmet  and  the  dragon-banner.  I follow 
that.” 

A pressure  of  the  hand,  and  Gibamund  rode 
on.  Hilda  reined  in  her  horse ; she  was  very 
pale, 


374  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

The  first  encounter  took  place  almost  immedi- 
ately. Johannes  the  Armenian,  one  of  the  best 
of  the  captains  of  Belisarius,  pushed  forward  with 
his  countrymen  across  the  brook,  the  water  of 
which  came  up  only  to  their  knees,  and  began 
ascending  the  bank  occupied  by  the  Vandals. 

He  was  beaten  back  at  once.  Zaro  hurled  his 
first  division  upon  him  with  the  force  with  which 
a bird  of  prey  strikes  its  victim.  The  Romans 
were  driven  headlong  down  the  half-climbed  hill 
into  the  middle  of  the  brook,  whose  waters  were 
soon  colored  red  with  blood,  and  finally  back  to 
the  other  shore. 

From  where  she  stood,  Hilda  saw  the  whole 
scene  distinctly.  “ Oh,  at  last,  at  last,”  she  cried, 
“a  breath  of  victory !” 

Zaro  did  not  follow  farther,  but  prudently  led 
his  men  back  to  the  left  bank  of  the  stream. 
“ First  let  us  utilize  once  more  our  position  on  the1 
hill  and  drive  them  down  here  *again,”  he  said 
with  a laugh. 

In  their  flight  the  Armenians  had  borne  along 
with  them  their  valiant  leader,  who  had  received 
a wound  in  the  arm  from  Zaro’s  sword.  Turning 
to  Marcellus,  the  commander  of  the  body-guard, 
he  said  grimly : “ The  devil  has  taken  possession 
of  these  cowards  of  Decimum,  That  they  fight 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


375 

only  with  their  swdrds  confuses  my  lancers.  The 
barbarians  dash  our  long  spears  to  the  right, 
rush  up  to  our  men  and  stab  them  with  the 
sword.  And  this  fellow  with  the  buffalo-helm 
thrusts  with  the  strength  of  a wild  bull.  Give 
me  your  shield-bearers.  I will  try  it  once  more.” 
With  the  shield-bearers,  led  by  Martinus,  the 
Armenian  repeated  the  attack.  Not  an  arrow, 
not  a javelin  met  his  advancing  troops,  but  as 
soon  as  they  began  to  climb  the  little  hill  on  the 
Vandal  bank,  the  Germans  charged  again  with 
drawn  swords.  Martinus  fell  by  Gibarhund’s 
hand.  Upon  this  the  shield-bearers  turned  and 
fled.  The  Armenians  hesitated,  wavered,  fell  for 
an  instant  into  confusion,  then  they  also  fled, 
pursued  by  the  Vandals. 

“ Charge  on  the  foemen  ! 

Fight  them,  and  hurl  them 
Down  in  the  conflict!” 

rang  out  the  battle-song  triumphantly  along 
Zaro’s  lines.  But  the  latter  once  more  led  the 
Vandals  back  to  the  left  bank.  “ They  must  re- 
peatedly see  the  backs  of  the  dreaded  Byzantines, 
before  they  will  gain  courage  to  defeat  them 
utterly,”  he  said  to  Gibamund,  who  urged  him  to 
pursue.  “ And — but  where  is  Belisarius?” 

It  was  just  at  this  moment  that  the  Byzantine 


3 76  # THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDAL £ 

general  arrived  on  the  field  of  battle,  with  his  five 
Hundred  horsemen,  and  witnessed  the  repulse 
and  flight  of  his  cavalry. 

When  he  learned  that  this  was  the  second  un- 
successful assault,  he  commanded  all  his  body- 
guard, men  trained  equally  well  to  fight  on  foot 
or  on  horseback,  to  dismount  and  advance  on 
foot,  together  with  the  Thracians  under  Althias, 
to  a third  attack.  They  were  to  bear  with  them 
his  own  banner,  the  “ standard  of  the  general/' 

It  was  a striking  spectacle,  and  to  the  Vandals 
a threatening  one.  The  trumpets  of  the  Romans 
sounded  a salutation  to  the  general’s  banner. 
Like  a moving  wall  of  steel  the  Byzantines  ad- 
vanced in  close  array,  with  their  long  lances  lev- 
elled. Zaro  saw  that  his  followers  were  startled. 
“ Now  forward  ! Across  the  brook  ! Charge !” 
He  sprang  on  in  advance.  But  he  soon  noticed 
that  very  few,  except  the  Gundings  and  their 
boar-helms,  were  following  him. 

“ Forward  !”  he  commanded  again,  but  still  the 
Vandals  hesitated.  They  felt  that  the  rush  down 
from  the  hill  had  rendered  their  success  easier; 
they  did  not  wish  to  abandon  this  advantageous 
position  ; and,  besides,  they  had  seen  in  the  dis- 
tance Belisarius.  Meantime  the  formidable  array 
of  spearmen  was  steadily  advancing. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  377 

“ If  we,  too,  only  had  our  spears !”  were  the 
words  Zaro  heard  anxiously  uttered  behind  him. 
-The  Byzantines  had  already  reached  the  brook, 
they  were  wading  the  narrow  stream,  and  still  the 
Vandals  on  the  hill  did  not  obey  the  order  to 
attack. 

“ You  will  not  ?”  cried  the  angry  Zaro.  “ Oh, 
but  you  SHALL  !” 

With  these  words  he  snatched  from  the  hands 
of  the  horseman  at  his  side  the  dragon-banner  of 
Geiseric,  and  with  the  cry,  “ Regain  your  banner 
and  your  honor!”  hurled  it  with  all  his  might 
across  the  brook,  right  into  the  ranks  of  the 
Byzantines. 

A Thracian  picked  up  the  banner  and  started 
to  carry  it  to  Belisarius. 

But  he  did  not  get  far. 

For  when  they  saw  the  most  valued  treasure  of 
their  kingdom  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  all  the 
Vandals,  on  horse  and  on  foot,  dashed  down  the 
hill,  rushed  into  the  brook,  and  fell  upon  the 
Byzantines. 

Then  there  sprang  forward  from  Zaro’s  side  a 
strange  figure,  mounted,  upon  a powerful  horse. 
It  was  a monk,  clad  in  a gray  mantle,  without 
helmet,  shield,  or  coat-of-mail,  but  with  a flashing 
sword  in  his  hand.  He  broke  his  way  through 


378  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 

the  hostile  horsemen,  reached  the  bearer  of  the 
red  banner,  wrested  it  from  his  hand,  and  with  a 
single  stroke  of  his  sword  laid  him  dead  at  his 
feet.  The  fallen  man  was  Valerianus,  the  com- 
mander of  the  mounted  lancers. 

The  victor  swung -on  high  the  regained  banner., 
but  a moment  after  fell  from  his  horse,  pierced  at 
once  by  five  javelins. 

But  from  the  hands  of  the  dying  man  Gundo- 
bad,  the  Gunding,  took  the  banner.  “ This  way  * 
Mass  here,  men  of  the  Gundings !”  he  cried. 
44  This  way,  you  boars,  and  show  your  tusks!” 

And,  even  while  he  spoke,  his  brother  reached 
his  side,  followed  by  the  whole  band  of  the  boar- 
helms.  For  the  moment,  at  least,  the  banner  and 
its  bearer  were  rescued. 

The  nearest  lines  of  the  enemy  wavered  and 
began  to  fall  back. 

44  Victory!”  shouted  the  Vandals,  and,  pressing 
boldly  forward,  they  sang  : 

“ Charge  on  the  foemen  ! 

Follow  the  banner, 

The  glory-crowned  banner, 

That  leads  us  to  victory !” 

And  with  their  sword-blades  they  struck  upon 
their  shields  a ringing  accompaniment. 

44  Victory  !”  cried  the  exulting  Hilda,  as  she 
gazed  down  upon  the  glorious  scene. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  $?9 


XXXIX. 

BELISARIUS  also  saw  the  critical  situation  of 
affairs. 

“ Hasten/’  he  cried  to  Procopius,  “ hasten  to 
Fara  and  the  Heruli.  Let  them  wheel  to  the  left 
and  capture  that  red  rag.” 

“And  the  Huns?”  Procopius  asked.  “Look! 
They  are  riding  slowing  forward  ; but  not  towards 
the  west,  not  against  the  Vandals — ” 

“ Obey  ! A bloody  end  must  be  put  to  this  wild 
dance  around  the  red  banner.  If  the  fighting 
furore  of  their  Teutonic  blood  is  once  really 
aroused,  it  is  all  over  with  us.  In  case  of  neces- 
sity, my  countenance  alone  will  hold  the  Huns  in 
check.” 

Procopius  drove  the  spurs  into  his  horse  and 
dashed  away  to  the  right. 

Mean  while  the  dragon-banner  had  again 
changed  its  bearer.  Innumerable  arrows  and 
darts  were  aimed  at  it  from  all  sides.  Gundobad’s 
horse  fell,  and  its  rider  did  not  rise  again. 

But  from  his  hand  his  brother  Gundomar  caught 
the  banner  and  thrust  the  spear-point  on  its  shaft 
into  the  throat  of  Cyprianus,  the  second  leader  of 
the  Thracians,  who  had  cleft  with  his  battle-axe 
the  boar-helm  and  head  of  Gundobad,  as  the  lat- 


380  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS. 

ter  was  about  to  spring  up  from  his  dead  horse. 
Hilda  had  seen  the  red  banner  disappear  for  a 
moment.  In  her  anxiety  she  gave  her  horse  a 
gentle  blow  with  her  hand,  and  the  fiery  creature 
darted  swiftly  forward.  Not  until  she  reached  the 
brook  did  it  occur  to  her  to  draw  rein.  A few 
moments  later  the  soldiers  of  her  guard  joined 
her  at  the  newly  selected  place  of  observation. 

Althias  the  Thracian  had  now  reached  the  sec- 
ond Gunding.  The  fight  was  unequal,  almost 
necessarily  fatal  to  every  banner-bearer.  The  left 
hand,  which  held  the  reins  and  carried  the  heavy 
banner,  could  not  manage  the  shield,  while  the 
weight  itself  materially  impaired  the  power  of  the 
right  arm  for  defence.  After  a short  battle  Gun- 
domar  fell  from  his  horse,  pierced  by  the  Thra- 
cian’s spear. 

But  in  an  instant  Gibamund  was  on  the  spot, 
and  close  behind  him  Zaro.  When  the  latter  saw 
the  banner  safe  in  his  brother’s  hands,  he  cried  . 
“ Belisarius  also  has  a banner  !” 

And  swiftly  darting  to  the  left,  he  scattered 
with  a furious  charge  of  his  horse  a whole  line  of 
Thracians,  reached  the  guardsman  of  Belisarius 
who  carried  the  gold-embroidered  imperial  stan- 
dard, and  with  a sweeping  stroke  of  his  sword  cut 
right  through  the  front  of  the  man’s  helmet. 

The  Roman  standard  fell,  while  Gibamund, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  38 1 

surrounded  and  strongly  covered  by  his  followers, 
waved  on  high  again  the  red  dragon-banner. 

Hilda  saw  it  distinctly.  Involuntarily  she  fol- 
lowed the  movement  forward,  to  victory.  Her 
black  horse,  obedient  to  her  lightest  indication, 
bore  her  across  the  brook,  whose  water  scarcely 
touched  the  border  of  her  long  white  robe.  She 
was  across  ; she  was  following  the  victory  ! Be- 
fore her,  somewhat  to  her  left,  she  saw  Gelimer 
and  his  cavalry- — for  the  whole  centre  of  the  Van- 
dals was  now  in  full  advance. 

It  was  the  zenith  of  Vandal  success,  and  also 
the  turning-point  of  the  battle. 

Again  Althias  endeavofed  to  force  his  way 
through  the  throng,  and  at  length  succeeded  in 
reaching  Gibamund.  Scarcely,  however,  had  a 
couple  of  blows  been  exchanged  between  them, 
when  there  came  from  the  left  to  the  Thracian’s 
ear  a wild  cry  of  lamentation.  He  turned  and 
saw  his  general’s  standard  fall. 

It  was  the  second  time,  for  Zaro  had  slain  the 
second  man  who  bore  it.  Already  the  victor  was 
stretching  out  his  hand  to  seize  the  pole  of  the 
banner,  which  no  third  Byzantine  showed  a dispo- 
sition to  take  up,  when  suddenly  there  came  from 
the  right,  close  at  hand,  the  sound  of  German 
horns.  It  was  the  Heruli,  who,  assailing  the  Van- 


382  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.' 

dais  on  the  flank,  had  broken  through  their  ranks 
and  were  charging  straight  against  Zaro, 

A well-aimed  javelin,  hurled  by  Fara’s  hand, 
carried  away  the  buffalo-helmet  from  the  head  of 
the  Vandal  leader  ; he  could  give  no  further 
attention  to  Belisarius’s  banner,  but  was  forced  to 
think  of  his  own  safety.  Half  turning  round,  he* 
cried  : 

“ Now  to  our  help,  King  Gelimer!” 

“ Here  I am,  brother,”  was  the  answer.  For 
the  king  was  already  close  to  the  spot. 

Slowly  following  the  advance  of  his  brothers, 
he  had  led  his  Vandals  and  Moors  steadily  nearer, 
until  he  perceived  the  new  attack  of  the  enemy 
and  the  moment  of  danger.  * 

“ Forward ! Rescue  Zaro  !”  he  shouted,  and 
dashed  fiercely  at  the  head  of  his  followers  against 
the  Heruli.  A man  sprang  forward,  seized  with 
his  left  hand  the  bridle  of  the  king’s'  horse  and 
aimed  a javelin  with  his  right ; but  before  the 
spear  could  fly,  Gelimer’s  sword  had  pierced  the 
Herulian’s  throat. 

Hilda  saw  it ; for  constantly  nearer  and  nearer 
she  rode  up  to  the  battle,  as  if  irresistibly  attracted 
by  the  clash  of  arms. 

At  this  moment  she  saw  Verus,  in  his  full  ec- 
clesiastical garb,  dash  past  her  towards  the  king. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  383 

It  was  by  no  means  easy  for  him  to  force  his  way 
through  the  ranks  of  the  Moors  and  Vandals. 

A second,  a third  spearman  was  stretched  on 
the  ground  by  Gelimer’s  sword.  He  was  now 
close  to  Zaro,  and  the  force  of  his  Vandals’  onset 
fell  full  upon  the  Heruli.  These  did  not  yield, 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  they  were  able  to  gain  no 
further  ground.  Like  twro  wrestlers  who,  locked 
arm  in  arm,  measure  against  each  other  an  equal 
strength,  neither  able  to  force  the  other  from  his 
position,  the  opposing  squadrons  pressed  to- 
gether in  a desperate,  unyielding  struggle. 

“Why  is  our  infantry  not  here?”  Belisarius 
asked,  anxiously  looking  towards  the  distant 
hills,  through  which  the  Numidian  road  stretched 
away  towards  Carthage. 

“ I have  already  sent  three  messengers  to  them,” 
replied  Procopius. 

“ There  ! The  Thracians  are  giving  way.  The 
Armenians  are  wavering.  The  Heruli  are  hard 
pressed  by  superior  numbers.  Forwrard,  Illyrians, 
and  save  me  this  battle ! Belisarius  himself  will 
lead  you  !” 

And  with  a loud  peal  of  the  trumpets,  at  the 
head  of  his  five  hundred  chosen  Illyrians,  the 
general  charged  down  the  hill  to  the  assistance  of 
the  Heruli. 


384  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

Gelimer  heard  the  sound,  saw  the  coming  onset, 
and  beckoned  to  some  fresh  squadrons  to  advance 
from  his  reserve.  “ Yonder!”  he  called  to  them, 
pointing  with  his  sword.  “ And  strike  up  again 
the  battle-song  : • 

“ ‘ Vengeance  is  arming 
On  high  in  the  heavens, 

And  the  right  will  prevail.’ 

“You,  Verus,  here?  What  is  it?  Your  face 
is — ” 

“ O king !”  cried  the  priest.  “ What  a bloody 
crime  !” 

“ What  has  happened?” 

“ The  officer  I sent  to  take  charge  of  the  pris- 
oners— a freedman  of  mine — misunderstood  your 
words,  ‘ be  removed  where  none  can  set  them 
free/  ” 

“Well?” 

“ He  has — he  just  announced  it  to  me— and  es- 
caped when  he  perceived  my  anger.” 

“ Well,  what  ?” 

“ He  has  put  to  death  Hilderic  and  Euages.” 

“ Almighty  God  !”  exclaimed  the  king,  turning 
pale.  “ I did  not  desire  that.” 

“ But  still  more — ” continued  Verus. 

“ Help,  Gelimer!”  came  the  voice  of  Zaro  from 
the  thickest  of  the  fight.  Belisarius  and  the  Illy- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  385 

rians  had  reached  him.  Gibamund  was  at  his 
side. 

Gelimer  also  spurred  forward  his  horse.  But 
Verus  seized  the  bridle  and  cried  : “ The  letter  ! 
The  warning  to  Hilderic!  I have  found  the 
letter,  stuck  fast  between  two  of  the  drawers. 
Here  it  is.  Hilderic  did  not  lie.  He  wished 
merely  to  protect  himself  against  you.  Although 
innocent,  he  has  been  deposed,  imprisoned,  and 
executed.  ” 

* 

For  a moment  Gelimer  stared,  speechless  with 
horror,  into  the  stony  face:  he  seemed  stunned. 
Then  there  sounded  in  his  ears  the  battle-song  of 
his  soldiers : 

-‘Vengeance  is  arming 
On  high  in  the  heavens, 

And  the  right  will  prevail.” 

“ Oh,  woe,  woe  ! I am  a criminal,  a murderer !” 
lamented  the  king  in  a loud  voice.  The  sword 
fell  from  his  grasp,  and  he  covered  his  face  with 
his  hands.  Then  a fearful  spasm  seized  him,  and 
he  seemed  about  to  fall  from  his  saddle.  Verus, 
however,  supported  him,  whirled  the  king’s  horse 
around,  so  that  its  back  was  towards  the  enemy, 
and  with  all  his  might  struck  it  a blow  on  the 
flank.  With  a bound  it  darted  off.  Sersaon  and 
JVLarkomer,  the  captain  of  the  royal  cavalry-guard. 


386  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

one  on  each  side,  held  in  his  seat  the  reeling 
rider. 

“ Help!  help!  I shall  be  overpowered,  brother 
Gelimer !”  called  out  again,  more  urgently,  de- 
spairingly, the  voice  of  Zaro. 

But  his  words  were  drowned  by  the  wild,  dis- 
orderly shouts  that  burst  from  the  Vandals : 
“ Flee  ! Flee  ! The  king  himself  has  fled.  Flee  ! 
Save  the  women  and  children  !” 

And  by  hundreds  they  turned  their  horses  about 
and  galloped  off,  across  the  brook,  towards  the 
camp. 

Then  Hilda,  now  only  a few  steps  distant  from 
the  tumult,  saw  Zaro ’ts  tall  form  vanish.  His 
horse  fell,  struck  by  a spear.  He  himself  was 
bleeding  from  several  wounds. 

But  again  he  sprang  to  his  feet.  Fara  the 
Herulian  rushed  upon  him  from  the  left,  and  with 
a blow  of  his  battle-axe  shattered  his  dragon-em- 
blazoned shield.  Zaro,  however,  hurled  the  bro- 
ken buckler  at  the  head  of  the  Herulian  with  such 
force  that,  stunned  by  the  blow,  he  almost  reeled 
from  his  saddle. 

Then  on  the  right  Barbatus,  the  commander  of 
the  Illyrians,  rode  up  with  his  long  spear  levelled. 
With  his  last  strength  Zaro  struck  the  weapon 
aside,  sprang  up  close  to  the  horse  of  the  shield- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  387 


less  rider,  and  drove  his  sword  between  the  hel- 
met and  breastplate  right  into  the  Illyrian's 
throat. 

But  in  springing  back  the  Vandal  sank  upon 
his  knee,  and  before  he  could  regain  his  footing 
two  horsemen  drew  up  before  him  with  raised 
javelins. 

“ Help,  Gibamund  !”  cried  the  kneeling  man, 
raising  his  left  arm  above  his  head,  in  place  of  a 
shield.  He  saw  himself  surrounded  by  foes  ; no 
Vandals  anywhere.  Ah,  yes,  one — the  red  ban- 
ner still  waved  ! 

“ Help,  Gibamund  !”  he  cried. 

His  appeal  was  answered.  One  of  his  assail- 
ants fell  from  his  horse,  and  Gibamund  was  at 
Zaro’s  side.  With  the  spear-point  on  the  pole  of 
the  banner  he  had  struck  the  man  just  under  his 
upraised  arm.  But  now  Fara,  who  had  meantime 
recovered  from  the  blow  received  from  Zaro’s 
shield,  letting  fall  the  reins  of  his  horse,  grasped 
with  his  left  hand  at  the  pole  of  the  banner.  Gib- 
amund defended  himself  with  his  sword  with  dif- 
ficulty against  the  mighty  blows  the  Herulian’s 
right  hand  dealt  with  the  battle-axe. 

The  other  horseman  who  with  lifted  spear  had 
halted  before  Zaro  now  turned  upon  the  Vandal 
a countenance  of  striking  power.  “Yield,  heroic 
man!”  he  said.  “Yield  to  me — I am  Belisarius!” 


388  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


Zaro  shook  his  head.  With  feeble  strength  he 
sprang  up,  his  sword  raised  to  strike.  But  Beli- 
sarius  with  all  his  force  thrust  the  head  of  his 
spear  up  to  the  shaft  through  Zaro’s  coat-of-mail 
into  his  breast.  The  dying  man  cast  one  glance 
to  the  left : he  saw  Gibamund’s  white  horse  sink 
down,  streaming  with  blood  ; he  saw  the  red  ban- 
ner fall.  “ Woe,  Vandalia  !”  was  his  heart-broken 
cry;  then  his  eyes  closed  in  death. 

“ That  was  a hero  !”  said  Belisarius,  bending 
over  him.  “ Where  is  Geiseric’s  banner,  Fara?” 

“Gone!”  replied  the  Herulian,  angrily.  See, 
yonder  it  vanishes — on  the  other  side  of  the 
brook.” 

“ Who  has — ” 9 

“ A woman  ! In  a helmet  with  falcon’s  wings — 
with  a silver-white  shield.  I half  believe  it  was 
a Valkyr,”  said  the  heathen,  with  a slight  shud- 
der. “ It  all  happened  so  quickly  I scarcely  saw 
it.  I had  just  slain  the  young  banner-bearer’s 
horse.  Then  a black  steed — I never  saw  such  an 
animal! — dashed  against  my  own  with  such  vio- 
lence that  it  sank  back  upon  its  hind-quarters,  and 
I heard  a voice  : ‘ Hilda  ? Thanks  ! ’ And  at  the 
same  instant  the  black  horse  bounded  away  with 
the  speed  of  the  wind.  I think  it  bore  two  riders. 
A long  white  mantle  floated  after  it  — or  was  it 
the  wings  of  a swan? — and  over  this  waved  the 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  389 

red  banner.  There  it  is,  just  disappearing  in  yon- 
der cloud  of  dust.  Hilda,’*  concluded  the  Ger- 
man, as  if  communing  with  himself,  “ the  name 
also  agrees.  Yes,  it  was  a Valkyr  that  bore  it 
away.” 

“ Forward  !”  shouted  Belisarius.  “ Pursue  them ! 
Across  the  brook  ! There  is  no  longer  any  army 
of  the  Vandals.  Their  centre  is  broken — is  rouk 
ed.  And  behold  our  faithful  Huns!”  he  laughed 
scornfully,  “how  they  are  rushing  down  from 
their  hill  and  falling  upon  the  fleeing  barbarians! 
What  an  act  of  heroism  ! And  how  they  are  all 
aiming  for  the  camp  to  plunder  it  ! And  yonder, 
at  last,  our  infantry  is  coming  up  on  our  left 
flank.  There,  too,  the  Vandals  have  taken  to 
flight  witho.ut  a battle.  On  to  the  camp!  The 
Huns  must  not  have  the  whole  booty.  All  the 
gold  and  silver  for  the  emperor,  the  pearls  and 
precious  stones  for  the  empress  ! Forward  !” 


XL. 

TO  CETHEGUS  FROM  PROCOPIUS. 

I HAVE  witnessed  a good  many  of  Belisarius’s 
battles,  most  of  them,  it  is  true,  from  a safe  dis- 
distance,  but  I never  before  saw  so  peculiar  an 
encounter  as  this. 


390  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

In  this  combat,  which  has  decided  the  fate  of 
the  Vandal  kingdom,  we  have  lost-  altogether  only 
forty-nine  men,  but  all  of  them  our  very  best 
people,  and  among  the  number  eight  command- 
ers. Fara,  Althias,  Johannes,  are  all  three 
wounded.  Yet  we  have  not  many,  not  more 
than  a hundred,  disabled;  for  the  Vandals  fought 
only  with  their  swords,  and  such  a contest  leaves 
nearly  as  many  dead  as  injured.  The  most  of 
our  loss  was  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  three 
Asdings,  two  nobles  in  boar-helmets,  and  an  ap- 
parently crazy  monk.  Eight  hundred  dead  Van- 
dals lay  upon  the  field,  but  by  far  the  greater 
part  of  these  fell  in  the  course  of  the  flight.  We 
have  captured,  including  the  wounded,  about  ten 
thousand  men,  together  with  women  and  children 
almost  innumerable.  On  our  two  wings  we  did  not 
lose  a man,  except  indeed  a Hun  whom  Belisa- 
rius  was  compelled  to  hang  because  he  had  filled 
his  pockets,  shoes,  hair,  and  ears  with  pearls  and 
gems  industriously  collected  in  the  Vandal  camp, 
especially  in  the  tents  of  the  women.  And  these 
jewels,  you  know,  are  all  reserved  for  the  Em- 
press Theodora,  who  has  honestly  earned  them. 

Our  pursuit  was  checked  only  by  our  own  cov- 
etousness. The  fallen  and  captured  Vandals  wore 
rich  decorations  of  silver  and  gold  on  their  wea- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  39 1 

pons  and  horses,  and  our  heroes  stopped  to  plun- 
der each  one  before  they  passed  him  by.  Our 
horsemen,  who  first  reached  the  enemy’s  camp, 
did  not  dare,  in  spite  of  their  greed,  to  enter  at 
once.  They  deemed  it  impossible  that  an  army 
so  overwhelmingly  superior  in  number  to  them- 
selves would  not  defend  their  own  camp,  contain- 
ing their  wives  and  children. 

The  king  is  said  to  have  halted  here  for  a mo- 
ment, like  a man  dazed.  But  when  Belisarius 
appeared  with  his  troops  before  the  tents,  Geli- 
mer,  with  the  cry,  “ The  avenger  !”  continued  his 
flight  towards  Numidia,  accompanied  by  a few  of 
his  relatives  and  servants,  and  by  the  faithful 
Moors.  Then,  in  a wild  rush  to  escape,  all  the 
Vandal  soldiers  dashed  out  of  the  camp,  aban-' 
doning  their  screaming  children,  their  lamenting 
wives,  and  all  their  rich  possessions  without  a 
stroke  of  the  sword. 

And  these  are — or  rather  these  were  Germans ! 
No  wonder  if  Justinian  next  attempts  to  free 
Italy  and  Spain  from  the  Goths. 

Our  troops  followed  the  fugitives  for  the  rest 
of  the  day  and  through  the  whole  moonlight 
night,  slaughtering  the  men  without  resistance, 
and  seizing  the  women  and  children  by  thou- 
sands, to  reduce  them  to  slavery.  Never  before 


392 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  V A JVHALS. 


in  my  life  have  I seen  so  much  beauty,  and  never, 
also,  such  piles  of  money,  both  gold  and  silver,  as 
in  the  tents  of  the  king  and  Vandal  nobles.  It 
seems  almost  incredible. 

But  Belisarius  after  the  victory  was  troubled 
with  the  gravest  apprehensions.  For  in  this  camp, 
abounding  in  beautiful  women,  in  wine  and  sup- 
plies, in  treasures  of  every  sort,  our  soldiers  forgot 
all  prudence,  all  discipline;  intoxicated  by  t^eir 
unheard-of  and  undreamed-of  good  fortune,  they 
lived  only  for  the  pleasure  of  the  moment ; they 
broke  through  every  barrier,  cast  from  them 
every  curb.  It  seemed  they  co'uld  not  sate  them- 
selves. 

That  demon  of  Africa,  inordinate  desire  for 
pleasure,  had  taken  possession  of  them.  Singly 
or  in  small  parties  they  roamed  through  the 
camp  and  its  neighborhood,  following  the  tracks 
of  the  fugitives,  wherever  the  prospect  of  booty  or 
enjoyment  lured  them.  There  was  no  longer  any 
thought  of  the  enemy,  any  regard  for  their  gen- 
eral’s commands.  Those  who  were  still  sober  en- 
deavored. loaded  down  with  booty  and  driving 
the  prisoners  before  them,  to  make  their  way  back 
to  Carthage.  Belisarius  says,  had  the  Vandals 
attacked  us  again  an  hour  after  we  had  entered 
their  camp,  not  a man  of  us  all  would  have  es- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  393 

caped.  So  completely  had  the  control  of  the 
victorious  army,  and  even  of  his  own  guardsmen, 
slipped  from  his  hands. 

At  daybreak  he  summoned  together  all — that 
is,  all  who  were  sober.  His  guardsmen  came 
quickly  enough  and  evidently  repentant.  Then, 
instead  of  an  address  of  praise  and  thanks,  he  de- 
livered to  the  officers  and  soldiers  a reproof,  such 
as  I have  never  heard  from  his  lips. 

He  told  us  we  were  military  adventurers,  serv- 
ing for  pay,  ruffians  as  bold  and  savage  as  raven- 
ous beasts,  excellently  adapted,  like  hunting  leop- 
ards, for  a bloody  chase,  but  not  able  to  leave  the 
slaughtered  prey  or  to  bring  it  to  the  hunter, 
and  then  creep  back  into  the  cage.  We  must  first 
devour  in  advance  our  share  of  the  blood  and  the 
flesh.  It  was  not  very  complimentary  ; but  much 
better  than  philosophy  and  theology,  rhetoric, 
grammar,  and  dialectics  combined. 

The  Vandal  war  is,  I fancy,  at  an  end.  To- 
morrow we  shall,  doubtless,  capture  the  fugitive 
king. 


Belisarius  entrusted  to  his  countryman,  the 
Thracian  Althias,  the  pursuit  of  the  fleeing  king. 
“ I choose  you/’  he  said,  “ because  I trust  you 
above  all  when  there  is  need  of  quick  and  inde- 


394  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

fatigable  action.  If  you  overtake  the  Vandal  be- 
fore he  finds  a place  of  refuge,  the  war  is  over; 
but  if  you  permit  him  to  escape,  you  will  make  for 
us  considerable  further  trouble.  Choose  your  own 
troops,  but  rest  neither  day  nor  night  until  you 
have  taken  the  tyrant,  living  or  dead.” 

Althias  blushed  like  a flattered  girl,  chose,  in 
addition  to  his  Thracians,  some  guardsmen,  and  a 
couple  of  hundred  Heruli  under  Fara.  He  also 
begged  me  to  accompany  him,  less,  I suppose,  on 
account  of  my  unwarlike  sword  than  for  the  sake 
of  my  advice.  I willingly  consented. 

And  now  began  a most  remarkable  chase  after 
the  Vandals.  For  five  days  and  five  nights  we 
pushed  on,  almost  without  stopping,  following  the 
tracks  of  the  fugitives,  which  were  plainly  visible 
in  the  sand  of  the  desert.  We  gradually  reduced 
more  and  more  the  advantage  of  their  start,  so 
that  on  the  fifth  night  we  felt  sure  that  on  the 
next  day  we  would  overtake  them  and  bring  them 
to  a stand,  before  they  could  reach  the  protecting 
Pappuan  Mountains. 

But  it  was  not  the  will  of  the  capricious  goddess 
that  Gelimer  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  Al- 
thias. 

Uliari,  a member  of  Belisarius’s  body-guard,  is 
a valiant  fellow  and  very  strong,  but  thoughtless 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 395 

and,  like  all  Germans,  too  fond  of  drink.  He  is 
also  an  enthusiastic  hunter,  and  has  been  repeat- 
edly punished  because,  even  on  the  march,  he  set 
out  in  pursuit  of  every  wild  animal  that  showed 
itself. 

At  sunrise  on  the  sixth  day,  when,  after  a short 
rest,  we  had  mounted  again,  Uliari  saw  a large 
vulture  sitting  on  one  of  the  prickly  bushes  which 
in  certain  parts  of  the  desert  grow  almost  to  a 
man's  height  out  of  the  salty  ground.  To  grasp 
his  bow,  draw  an  arrow  from  his  quiver,  take  aim, 
and  shoot,  was  the  work  of  an  instant.  The  bow 
twanged,  the  bird  flew  off;  but  a cry  was  heard 
just  ahead  of  us,  and  Althias,  who  was  riding  for- 
ward in  advance  of  the  rest,  fell  from  his  horse, 
shot  in  the  back  of  the  head,  just  below  his  helmet. 
Uliari,  usually  an  excellent  archer,  had  not  slept 
off  his  drunkenness  of  the  night  before.  Horrified 
at  his  deed,  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  fled 
back  to  the  nearest  inhabited  place,  to  seek  asylum 
in  the  chapel  there. 

We  all  gathered  around  the  dying  Althias,  al- 
though he  commanded  us  by  signs  to  leave  him  to 
his  fate  and  to  continue  the  pursuit.  But  we 
could  not  find  it  in  our  hearts  to  do  this.  In  fact 
when  Fara  and  I,  after  our  friend  had  expired  in 
our  arms,  desired  to  proceed,  the  Thracians  de- 


396  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

manded  with  threats  that  the  corpse  should  first 
be  buried,  in  order  that  his  spirit  might  not  be 
condemned  to  lament  his  £ate  here  until  the 
judgment-day.  We  dug  a grave,  therefore,  and 
buried  the  body  with  the  customary  honors. 

This  loss  of  a couple  of  hours  ensured  Gelimer’s 
escape.  The  fugitives  reached  their  goal,  the 
Pappuan  Mountains  on  the  border  of  Numidia, 
mountains  whose  almost  inaccessible  summits 
can  be  gained  only  by  a laborious  ascent  over 
steep  and  rugged  masses  of  rock.  The  Moors 
who  dwell  here  are  faithful  and  devoted  to  Geli- 
mer.  An  old  city,  Medenus,  now  merely  a col- 
lection of  huts  on  the  northern  ridge  of  the 
mountain,  received  the  king  and  his  companions. 

To  carry  by  assault  these  rough  antelope-paths 
would  be  an  impossibility.  A single  man  with  , a 
shield  could  successfully  block  the  ascent.  The 
Moors  have  rejected  contemptuously  our  proposi- 
tion that  they  should  surrender  the  refugees  and 
receive  in  return  a liberal  reward.  And  so, 
patience!  We  will  pitch  our  camp  at  the  foot  of 
the  mountain,  guard  all  the  paths,  and  starve  the 
people  out. 

But  that  may  take  some  time.  It  is  now  winter. 
Sometimes  in  the  morning  we  see  the  mountain- 
tops  covered  with  a light  snow,  which,  however, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  39 7 

the  sun  soon  dissolves,  when  it  breaks  through  the 
clouds.  But  it  does  not  always  break  through, 
while,  on  the  other  hand,  mist  and  rain  do  unceas- 
ingly  penetrate  the  camel-skins  from  which  our 
tents  are  made. 


XLI. 

We  still  lie  before  the  only  entrance  to  these 
Pappuan  Mountains.  We  cannot  get  in;  the 
others  cannot  get  out.  I once  saw  a cat  lying 
thus  in  front  of  a mouse  hole.  It  was  tedious  for 
the  cat,  very ; but  as  the  hole  had  no  other  outlet, 
the  mouse  was  compelled  either  to  starve  or  to  run 
at  length  into  the  claws  of  its  enemy. 

To-day  we  received  news  and  reinforcements 
from  Carthage.  Belisarius,  informed  of  the  situa- 
tion of  affairs,  has  appointed  Fara  to  the  chief 
command  instead  of  Althias.  It  was  Fara  with 
his  Heruli  who  won  for  Belisarius  his  most 
glorious  battle,  the  victory  over  the  Persians  at 
Dara.  Nothing  but  German  heroism,  which,  I 
take  it,  is  closely  related  to  insanity,  could  have 
saved  the  day.  As  it  was,  Fara  left  more  than 
half  his  Heruli  dead  upon  the  field.  Belisarius,  I 
learn,  is  now  marching  against  Hippo, 

Further  news — from  Hippo  : 

Our  general  took  the  city  without  resistance. 


398  the  last  of  the  va heals. 

The  Vandals,  among  them  many  nobles,  sought 
refuge  in  the  Catholic  churches  and  abandoned 
their  asylum  only  upon  assurance  that  their  lives 
would  be  spared.  And  soon  the  wind  blew  again 
— this  time  literally — a rich  prize  into  our  hands. 

The  tyrant  prudently  had  removed  the  royal 
hoard  of  the  Vandals  from  the  citadel  at  Carthage, 
since  he  mistrusted  both  the  fidelity  of  the  citi- 
zens and  the  protection  afforded  by  the  dilapi- 
dated walls.  He  placed  this  hoard  upon  a ship 
and  commanded  Bonifacius,  his  private -secretary, 
to  convey  it  to  Spain,  if  disaster  overtook  the 
Vandals,  to  Theudis,  the  king  of  the  Visigoths. 
It  was  with  him  that  Gelimer  designed  to  take 
refuge,  in  case  he  should  lose  his  kingdom,  in 
order,  perhaps,  with  the  aid  of  the  Visigoths  ulti- 
mately to  regain  it. 

A violent  storm  drove  the  treasure-ship  back 
into  the  harbor  of  Hippo,  just  after  Belisarius  had 
occupied  the  place.  So  the  hoard  of  the  Vandals, 
plundered  by  Geiseric  from  the  coasts  and  islands 
of  three  seas,  is  now  on  its  way  to  Byzantium, 
into  the  hands  of  the  imperial  pair.  Theodora, 
your  piety  is  profitable  ! 

And  yet  not  quite  all  the  royal  treasures  of  the 
Vandals  are  going  to  Byzantium. 

The  Emperor  Titus,  when  he  destroyed  Jerusa* 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 399 

lem,  conveyed  to  Rome  the  sacred  vessels  of  the 
Jewish  Temple — candlesticks,  bowls,  dishes,  pitch- 
ers, and  every  conceivable  sacred  article  of  gold  or 
of  silver,  many  of  them  adorned  with  pearls  and 
other  gems.  When  Geiseric  plundered  Rome,  he 
transferred  in  his  pirate  ships  the  Temple  treas- 
ures to  Carthage.  The  empress  was  aware  of 
this  ; and  this  treasure  was  not  the  least  of  the 
reasons  which  necessitated  the  bishop’s  dream. 
When  now  these  sacred  vessels  were  about  to  be 
shipped  at  Hippo  with  the  rest  of  the  hoard  to 
Carthage — Belisarius  wishes  the  entire  booty  to  be 
displayed  on  his  triumphal  entry  into  Byzantium — 
the  oldest  of  the  Jews  of  Hippo  sought  an  inter- 
view with  Belisarius,  and  said : 

“Take  warning,  mighty  warrior!  Do  not  ship 
these  vessels  to  Byzantium.  Listen  to  a fable 
from  the  mouth  of  thy  humble  servant : 

“ An  eagle  stole  a piece  of  meat  from  the  burnt- 
offering  and  bore  it  to  his  eyrie.  But  some  glim- 
mering coals  adhered  to  the  meat  consecrated  to 
God.  And  these  glimmering  coals  set  fire  to  the 
nest  of  the  great  bird  of  prey  and  consumed  his 
young,  whose  wings  were  not  yet  strong  enough 
for  flight,  and  the  mother-eagle  with  them.  And 
when  the  old  eagle  attempted  to  save  them,  he 
fell  into  the  flames.  Thus  the  powerful  robber 


466  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

that  had  carried  into  his  house  that  which  belonged 
to  the  holy  God  met  a wretched  death.  Truly, 
truly,  I say  unto  you,  the  Capitol  at  Rome  fell  into 
ail  enemy’s  hands  because  it  held  the  vessels  of 
God’s  temple;  the  citadel  of  the  Vandals  fell  into 
an  enemy’s  hands  because  it  contained  these  treas- 
ures. Shall  now  the  citadel  of  the  emperor  at 
Byzantium — God  bless  the  defender  of  justice  ! — 
be  the  third  eagle’s  eyrie  that  is  destroyed  on 
their  account?  Truly,  I say  unto  you,  thus 
Speaks  the  Lord  : This  gold  and  this  silver  shall 
wander  over  the  earth,  and  shall  destroy  every  city 
to  which  robbery  conveys  it,  until  the  gold  and 
silver  lie  again  in  the  holy  city  of  Jerusalem.” 

And  lo  ! Belisarius  was  frightened.  He  wrote  to 
the  Emperor  Justinian  the  old  Jew’s  fable,  and  — 
really  and  truly  the  Patriarch  Moses  can  accom- 
plish greater  miracles  than  St.  Cyprian! — J ustinian, 
who  is  more  avaricious  than  all  the  Jews  combined, 
ordered  that  these  treasures  should  be  taken,  not 
to  Byzantium,  but  to  Jerusalem.  And  there  they 
are  to  be  divided  between  the  Christian  churches 
and  the  synagogues  of  the  Jews. 

So  the  old  Hebrew  has  gotten  back,  without  a 
stroke  of  the  sword,  a part  of  the  treasure  for  his 
people,  while  Romans,  Vandals  and  Byzantines 
gained  them  only  after  fierce  fighting  and  with 


401 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

the  expenditure  of  much  blood.  Does  the  old 
man  believe  in  the  curse  that  lies  upon  the  treas- 
ures? I fancy  that  he  does  believe  it.  In  such  a 
case  he  would  not  have  to  lie,  and  his  faith  would 
Subserve  his  purpose.  Therefore,  why  not  believe 
it? 


Gradually,  as  we  learn,  what  is  left  of  the  bar- 
barian kingdom  is  being  picked  off,  piece  by  piece, 
for  Justinian’s  wide-open  mouth,  just  as  a man 
eats  artichokes.  The  next  care  of  Belisarius,  after 
his  victory  over  the  land  forces,  was  to  get  posses- 
sion of  the  hostile  fleet. 

He  learned  from  captives  where  it  lay  at  anchor, 
and  learned  also  that  it  was  very  weakly  manned, 
as  Zaro  had  taken  with  him  almost  all  the  soldiers. 
A few  of  our  triremes,  sent  out  from  Carthage, 
sufficed  to  take  possession  of  the  hundred  and 
fifty  galleys,  upon  which  we  found  only  some 
sailors.  Not  a spear  was  thrown.  So  the  much- 
dreaded  pirate-ships  of  Geiseric  were  brought  in 
tow  to  Carthage,  having  been  captured  without 
resistance,  like  a flock  of  storm-beaten  wild  swans 
that  fall  exhausted  and  with  crippled  wings  into  a 
pond,  where  one  can  easily  catch  them  with  his 
hand.  A lieutenant  of  Belisarius  has  regained 
Sardinia.  It  was  necessary,  but  sufficient,  to  show 


402  ' THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

the  head  of  Zaro  on  a spear.  Until  then  the  peo- 
ple would  not  believe  in  the  overthrow  of  the  Van- 
dals; but  when  they  saw  the  head  of  their  dreaded 
conqueror,  they  no  longer  doubted. 

Corsica,  too,  at  once  submitted;  so  also  the 
populous  Caesarea  in  Mauretania,  and  Septa,  one 
of  the  Pillars  of  Hercules.  Tripolis  was  besieged 
by  the  Moors,  who,  during  the  struggle  between 
Byzantium  and  the  Vandals,  thought  an  oppor- 
tunity was  presented  to  acquire  land  and  booty 
on  their  own  account.  The  city  was,  however, 
relieved  by  us,  and  received  for  the  emperor  from 
the  hands  of  Pudentius. 

One  might  almost  suppose  that  the  entire -na- 
tion of  the  Vandals  consisted  of  their  royal  house 
and  a few  nobles.  After  Zaro  and  the  nobles  with 
him  fell,  after  the  king  took  to  flight,  all  resistance 
ceased,  just  as  the  sticks  fall  apart  from  a bundle 
when  the  cord  that  binds  them  together  is  cut. 
Since  the  day  at  Tricameron  the  barbarians  suffer 
themselves  to  be  caught  like  sheep.  We  find  them 
now  only  in  the  Catholic  churches,  where,  seeking 
sanctuary  and  without  weapons,  they  embrace  the 
altars  which  they  have  so  often  dishonored. 

Assuredly,  if  their  brothers  in  Italy  and  Spain, 
if  their  cousins,  the  Franks,  the  Allemanni,  and  the 
other  hordes  of  these  barbarians,  by  whatever 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


403 


names  they  are  known  in  Gaul  and  Germany, 
were  also  as  cultured  as  these  Vandals,  and  could, 
like  them,  compose  poetry  in  Latin  and  in  Greek, 
then  the  Emperor  Justinian,  with  the  aid  of  Beli- 
sarius  and  Narses,  would  soon  take  away  the  en- 
tire West  from  the  Germans.  But  I fear  the  Van- 
dals stand  alone  on  such  a pinnacle  of  refinement. 


XLII. 

FURTHER  news!  Perhaps  another  war  and 
fresh  victories  close  at  hand  ! 

Shall  I,  in  reality,  O Cethegus,  soon  be  per- 
mitted to  visit  you  in  your  Italy  and  help  you,  by 
means  of  the  Huns  and  Heruli,  to  deliver  Rome? 
Your  tyrants,  the  Ostrogoths,  have  made  the 
bridge  for  us  into  this  land  ; your  Sicily  was  that 
bridge.  Justinian’s  thanks  are  quick  of  wing. 
When  Belisarius  was  about  to  sail  from  Byzantium 
he*  received  from  the  emperor  sealed  commands, 
with  instructions  not  to  open  the  papyrus  until 
after  the  overthrow  of  the  Vandal  kingdom.  In 
accordance  with  these  instructions,  ourgeneral  now 
demands  from  the  court  at  Ravenna  the  cession 
of  the  important  promontory  and  fortress  of 
Lilybaeum  and  of  all  that  part  of  Sicily  which 
formerly  belonged  to  the  Vandals.  For  the 


404 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


kingdom  of  the  Vandals  has  now  reverted  to 
Byzantium  ; consequently  all  that  ever  pertained 
to  this  kingdom  is  subject  to  the  same  reversion. 
One  is  not  etnperor  of  the  Pandects  for  nothing. 

To  be  honest,  I consider  it  a little  brutal  to 
reveal  so  quickly  to  the  startled  eyes  of  our 
dupes  their  amazing  stupidity.  It  is  certainly 
the  crown  of  all  statesmanship  to  overthrow  the 
first  by  the  aid  of  the  second,  and  then,  by 
way  of  thanks,  to  overthrow  the  second  also. 
But  it  has  been  a long  time  since  the  game  has 
been  played  quite  so  openly.  Belisarius  must, 
therefore,  threaten  war,  and  war  not  only  for 
Lilybaeum  and  Sicily,  but  for  all  Italy,  for  Ra- 
venna and  Rome.  Immediately  after  the  battle 
of  Tricameron  I composed  for  Belisarius  the 
letter  to  the  Queen-regent  Amalaswintha,  in 
accordance  with  the  secret  instructions  of  the 
emperor.  It  closes  as  follows:  “If  you  refuse, 
you  will  find  out  that  you  have  brought  upon 
yourselves,  not  the  danger  of  war,  but  war  itself; 
a war  in  which  we  shall  take  from  you  not  merely 
Lilybaeum,  but  all  that  you  hold  without  right, 
and  that  is — all  Italy/’  The  news  to-day  is  that 
a revolution  has  taken  plaice  at  Ravenna.  Some 
evil-disposed  men,  who  formerly  wished  to  sup- 
port the  Vandals  against  us,  men  who  do  not 


THE  LAST  OF  TILE  VAJVDALS. 


405 


love  Justinian,  (and  also,  unfortunately,  do  not 
fear  him)  have  seized  the  helm  of  government 
there  and  flatly  rejected  our  demands.  The 
names  of  these  barbarians — Hildebrand,  Witiges, 
Teia — you  are  doubtless  more  familiar  with  than 
I am.  But  I fancy  I can  hear  the  sound  of 
trumpets  in  the  air. 

First,  however,  we  must  get  possession  of  this 
Vandal  king  without  a kingdom.  The  siege  is 
lasting  altogether  too  long  for  our  impatience 
and  that  of  Belisarius.  All  propositions  for  a 
surrender  have  hitherto  been  refused,  even  the 
senselessly  favorable  terms  offered  by  us  in  order 
to  bring  the  affair  to  an  end.  Our  general’s 
desire  seems  to  be  to  have  a speedy  triumphal 
entry  into  Byzantium,  such  as  has  not  taken  place 
for  more  than  a century,  and  then  to  continue  on 
in  Italy  as  he  has  begun  here.  And  since  per- 
suasion with  words  will  not  prevail  with  this 
remarkable  king,  who  seems  sometimes  to  be 
soft  wax,  at  others  the  hardest  granite,  we  shall 
to-morrow  undertake  to  persuade  him  with  jave- 
lins. 

Fara  hopes  that  hunger  has  so  exhausted  the 
Vandals  and  Moors  on  the  mountain  that  they 
cannot  hold  out  against  a vigorous  attack.  The 
truth  is,  Fara,  a German — and  a most  excellent 


40 6 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

fellow  ! — can  endure  everything  except  a continu- 
ation of  thirst  and  inactivity.  Now  our  stock 
of  wine  has  run  low,  and  what  we  have  is  bad. 
And  we  have  nothing  to  do  except  alternately  to 
sleep  and  to  keep  guard  before  the  mouse-hole 
called  Pappua.  He  has  had  enough  of  this  and 
is  determined  to  force  matters  to  an  issue.  As, 
however,  I observe  the  steep  and  narrow  path  up 
those  rugged  rocks  I have  my  doubts  about  the 
result.  I fear,  unless  St.  Cyprian  or  Lady  Fortune 
performs  another  miracle  for  us,  we  shall  get  to- 
morrow, not  Gelimer  and  the  Vandals,  but  hard 
knocks. 


Well,  we  have  them  ! I mean  the  hard  knocks. 
The  Vandals  and  the  Moors  up  there  wagered 
with  each  other  which  could  treat  us  worst,  and 
we  paid  the  stakes. 

Fara  performed  his  duty  as  a commander  and 
a soldier  as  well  as  a man  could  do  when  he 
attempts  the  impossible.  He  divided  us  into 
three  divisions;  first  the  Armenians,  then  the 
Thracians,  and  last  of  all  the  Heruli.  ' The  Huns, 
whose  horses  can  do  much,  but  not  exactly  climb 
over  the  rocks  like  goats,  remained  below  in  front 
pf  the  camp. 

In  divisions  of  two  hundred  men  each  we  ad- 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  4 0? 


vanced  in  a long  procession,  two  abreast,  in  front 
in  single  file,  up  the  only  traversable  path. 

I make  the  story  short : the  Moors  rolled  down 
rocks,  the  Vandals  hurled  spears  at  us.  Twenty 
Armenians  fell  without  having  seen  a single 
enemy;  the  rest  turned  back. 

Then  the  Thracians  pushed  forward  with  fear- 
less contempt  of  death.  They  succeeded  in  get- 
ting, perhaps,  a hundred  steps  higher.  By  that 
time  they  had  lost  thirty-five  men,  and  still  not 
an  enemy  in  sight.  Then  they  too  turned  back. 

“ Cowardice  !”  scolded  Fara. 

“ It  is  an  impossibility,”  replied  Arzen,  the 
severely  wounded  leader  of  the  Armenians.  A 
Vandal  spear,  marked  with  the  emblem  of  the 
Asdings,  a flying  dart,  had  penetrated  his  thigh. 

“ That  I do  not  believe,”  Fara  cried.  “ Follow 
me,  my  Heruli !” 

They  followed.  So  did  I,  but  discreetly,  as 
one  of  the  last.  For,  as  the  legal  counsellor  of 
Belisarius,  I do  not  consider  myself  obligated 
to  extraordinary  deeds  of  heroism.  Only  when 
he  himself  is  looking  on,  I sometimes  foolishly 
fancy  my  place  is  at  his  side. 

I have  never  seen  such  an  assault.  Masses  of 
rock  and  spears,  hurled  by  invisible  hands, 
crushed  and  impaled  our  men.  But  those  still 


4o8  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

left  alive  climbed,  leaped,  and  crept  higher  and 
higher.  The  top  of  the  mountain,  which  the  two 
first  attempts  had  not  nearly  reached,  was  gained. 
The  hiding-places  of  the  Moors  among  the  rocks 
were  surmounted,  and  many  of  these  brown, 
haggard  creatures  paid  with  their  lives  for  their 
hospitality  towards  the  fugitives.  I saw  Fara 
himself  cut  down  three  of  them.  Then  he 
arranged  his  almost  breathless  band  and  was 
about  to  order  them  to  charge  through  the  nar- 
row. passage  in  the  rocks  on  the  crest  of  the 
mountain,  when  out  of  this  very  gateway  burst 
the  Vandals  with  the  king  at  their  head.  The 
dentated  crown  he  wore  identified  him,  and  I saw 
him  quite  close.  Never  shall  I forget  that  face  ! 
He  looked  like  a fanatical  monk,  and  yet,  at  the 
same  time,  like  the  hero  Zaro,  who  fell  before 
Belisarius.  Behind  him  was  a young  man  who 
much  resembled  him.  The  red  banner  was  borne, 
I verily  believe,  by  a woman.  But  of  this  I can- 
not be  sure,  for  the  whole  shock  came  upon  us 
with  the  swiftness  and  force  of  lightning. 

The  first  rank  of  the  Heruli  was  swept  away 
as  completely  as  if  it  had  never  stood  there. 
“ Where  is  the  king  ?”  exclaimed  Fara,  springing 
forward.  “Here!”  rang  out  the  answer,  and  the 
next  moment  five  of  the  Heruli  were  lifting  from 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  409 

the  ground  the  body  of  their  badly  wounded 
leader. 

That  much  I saw.  Then  I fell  over  backwards. 
The  young  Vandal  behind  the  king  had  hurled 
his  javelin  full  against  my  breastplate.  I stum- 
bled, fell,  and  slipped  along  down  the  shingly 
decline,  far  faster  and  more  easily  than  I had 
climbed  it.  When  I finally  picked  myself  up,  his 
faithful  followers  were  carrying  past  me  Fara 
stretched  upon  two  shields.  The  officer  of  the 
Armenians  was  leaning  on  his  spear.  “ Do  you 
believe  it  now,  Fara?”  he  asked.  “Yes,”  re- 
plied the  latter,  holding  his  hand  to  his  head. 
“ Now  I believe  it.  Oh,  my  handsome  helmet !” 
he  laughed.  “ But  better  the  helmet  split  alone 
than  th£  skull  beneath  it  too  !” 

When  we  got  below,  however,  he  was  in  no 
mood  for  laughing.  Of  his  two  hundred  Heruli, 
one  hundred  and  twenty  were  lying  dead  among 
the  rocks.  That  was  our  first  attempt  to  storm 
the  Pappuan  Mountain,  and  I think  it  will  be  the 
last. 


Fara’s  wound  is  healing,  but  he  complains  a 
good  deal  of  headache. 

Up  there  on  that  accursed  mountain  the 
Vandals  must  die  a miserable  death  by  starvation. 


4io 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


Deserters  frequently  come  to  us  now,  but  exclu- 
sively Moors.  As  yet  in  the  whole  campaign  not 
a Vandal  has  voluntarily  joined  us,  and,  that,  too 
in  spite  of  my  elegantly-worded  invitation  to  re- 
volt and  treachery.  Fidelity  is  the  only  one  of 
the  much-praised  German  virtues  that  seems  to 
be  left  to  this  degenerate  race. 

Fara  has  commanded  that  we  shall  receive  no 
more  deserters.  “ The  more  mouths  and  stom- 
achs there  are  with  Gelimer,”  he  says,  “ the  less 
there  will  be  for  each.”  But  now  since  they  are 
no  longer  accepted  as  comrades-in-arms,  the 
Moors  sell  themselves  to  us  as  slaves,  in  exchange 
for  a piece  of  bread. 

Even  these  dismal  business  transactions  have 
finally  been  prohibited  by  Fara.  He  said  to  his 
soldiers : “ Let  them  starve  together  up  there, 
that  the  sooner  you  may  get  them  all  as  slaves 
taken  in  war.” 

It  is  said  that  there  are  not  more  than  forty 
Vandals  on  the  mountain.  It  does  them  all 
honor  that  they  still  hold  out  when  Moors  suc- 
cumb. That,  I take  it,  is  as  great  a paradox  as 
one  can  think  of.  For  all  that  we  heard  in 
Byzantium  concerning  the  luxuriousness  and 
effeminacy  of  the  Vandals  was  far  surpassed 
by  what  we  found  in  their  palaces,  villas,  and 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  41 1 

private  houses,  and  by  what  the  Carthaginians 
related  to  us : two,  even  three  baths  a day,  on 
their  tables  the  delicacies  of  all  lands  and  seas, 
all  their  service  of  pure  gold,  pageants,  sports  of 
the  circus,  hunting — but  with  the  least  possible 
exertion  !— dancers,  actors,  musicians,  promenades 
in  delightfully  laid  out  groves  full  of  the  choicest 
fruit-trees,  daily  banquets,  daily  drinking-bouts, 
and  the  enjoyment  of  unbridled  pleasures  of 
every  sort.  As  the  life  of  the  Vandals  was  the 
most  luxurious  of  all  the  people  in  the  world,  so 
that  of  the  Moors  is  the  most  indigent  and 
pinched.  Half-naked,  wearing  alike  in  winter 
and  summer  only  a short  gray  garment,  they  live 
in  low  huts  made  of  skins  or  leather,  huts  in 
which  one  can  scarcely  breathe  ; neither  the  snow 
of  the  mountains  nor  the  burning  heat  of  the 
desert  affects  them  ; they  sleep  on  the  bare  ground, 
only  the  richest  spreading  under  them  a camel’s 
skin  ; they  know  neither  bread  nor  wine,  nor  any 
other  of  the  better  kinds  of  food,  but  like  cattle 
chew  unground,  unparched  barley  and  spelt. 

And  now  the  Vandals  hold  out  with  unbroken 
spirit  while  the  Moors  succumb.  It  is  incompre- 
hensible ; for  are  they  not  the  same  people  from 
whom  we  have  taken  Africa  in  two  short  cavalry- 
battles?  To  all  our  astonished  questions  the 


412 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


deserters  return  but  one  answer,  4 The  holy  king/ 
He  inspires  them  with  his  eyes,  with  the  sound  of 
his  voice,  with  magic. 

Fara  thinks,  however,  that  no  magic  can  pre- 
vail long  against  hunger  and  thirst.  And  since, 
according  to  the  reports  of  these  gaunt  and 
famished  Moors,  the  sufferings  of  the  king  and  his 
followers  are  beyond  all  description,  it  occurred 
to  Fara,  really  out  of  kindness  of  heart,  to  put 
an  end  to  this  misery.  Therefore  he  dictated  to 
me  the  following  letter  : 

44  Pardon  me,  King  of  the  Vandals,  if  what  I am 
writing  to  you  seems  somewhat  foolish.  My 
head  was  always  better  adapted  for  enduring 
sword-cuts  than  for  composing  letters.  And  since 
you  and  my  head  came  into  collision  it  is  still 
harder  for  me  to  think  than  it  was  before. 

44 1 write — or,  rather,  I have  this  letter  written — 
frankly,  after  the  manner  of  a barbarian. 

44  My  dear  Gelimer,  why  do  you  plunge  yourself 
and  those  who  are  faithful  to  you  into  such  an 
abyss  of  misery?  Merely  that  you  may  not  be 
compelled  to  be  subject  to  the  emperor?  For 
the  word  4 freedom  ’ is,  I suppose,  the  thing  that 
deludes  you.  Do  you  not  see  that  you  are  under 
obligations  for  this  freedom  to  wretched  Moors, 
and  that  its  continuance  depends  upon  these 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  V A HEALS. 


413 


savages?  Is  it  not  better  to  be  a subject  of  the 
great  emperor  at  Byzantium  than  to  rule  over  a 
handful  of  starving  followers  at  Pappua?  Or  is 
it  disgraceful  to  acknowledge  the  same  master 
that  Belisarius  serves? 

“ Lay  aside  this  folly,  noble  Gelimer.  I myself 
am  a German,  of  the  royal  blood  of  the  Heruli, 
and  my  ancestors  ruled  as  kings  in  our  old  home 
on  the  coast  of  the  stormy  sea,  opposite  the  islands 
of  the  Danes ; yet  I serve  under  the  great  com- 
mander, and  I am  proud  of  it.  My  sword  and 
the  ready  valor  of  my  Heruli  decided  the  greatest 
victory  of  great  Belisarius.  I have  remained  a 
general  and  a hero,  although  in  the  emperor’s  ser- 
vice. The  same  opportunity  awaits  you.  Belisarius 
assures  to  you  your  life,  your  freedom,  an  estate 
in  Asia  Minor,  the  dignity  of  patrician,  and  a 
military  command  immediately  under  himself. 
Esteemed  Gelimer,  noble  king,  T mean  this  well. 
Defiance  is,  in  its  place,  an  excellent  thing,  but 
folly  is — foolish.  Bring  it  to  an  end.” 

The  messenger  has  returned.  He  saw  the  king 
himself,  and  says  he  looks  like  a ghost  rather  than 
a mortal,  a veritable  king  of  shadows.  And  this 
inflexible  man,  when  he  read  the  kindly  letter  of 
the  good-hearted  German,  burst  into  tears.  He 


414 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


wept  like  a woman,  he  who  struck  down  the 
hitherto  unconquered  Fara,  and  who  unflinchingly 
endures  privations  that  seem  incredible.  Here  is 
the  Vandal’s  answer: 

“ I thank  you  for  your  advice,  but  I cannot  fol- 
low it.  You  have  given  up  your  home  and  are 
blown  about  the  world  like  a straw.  I was,  I am 
king  of  the  Vandals.  I will  not  serve  the  unjust 
enemy  of  my  people.  God,  as  I believe,  com- 
mands me  and  the  remnant  of  the  Vandals  still  to 
endure;  he  can  save  us  if  he  will.  I can  write 
no  further.  The  sorrow  that  encompasses  me 
benumbs  my  thoughts.  Send  me,  kind  Fara,  a 
loaf  of  bread.  A tender  boy,  the  son  of  a fallen 
noble,  lies  very  sick  for  want  of  food.  He  begs, 
he  implores,  he  cries  so  piteously  for  bread  ! It  is 
long  since  any  of  us  have  tasted  such  a thing. 

“ And  a sponge,  dipped  in  water.  My  eyes,  in- 
flamed by  watching  and  weeping,  burn  so  pain- 
fully. 

“ And  a harp.  I have  composed  a song  upon 
our  fate,  that  I would  like  to  sing  to  the  harp.” 

Fara  fulfilled  the  three  requests,  although  the 
harp  could  be  obtained  only  in  the  nearest  city. 
But  still  more  closely  than  before  he  besets  the 
“mountain  of  sorrow,”  as  our  soldiers  now  name  it. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


415 


XLIII. 

It  was  a cold,  foggy  morning  in  early  March, 
a morning  on  which  the  rays  of  the  sun  had  not 
been  able  to  penetrate  the  dense  clouds  that  hung 
over  the  mountains. 

The  old  city  of  Medenus  had  long  since  been 
abandoned  by  its  Carthaginian  and  Roman  inhab- 
itants. Most  of  its  houses,  built  of  the  stone  of 
the  mountain,  were  desolate  and  in  ruins.  The 
few  which  were  still  protected  by  roofs  were  used 
in  winter  by  wandering  Moors  as  places  of  shelter. 
Of  these  the  old  basilica  afforded  the  most  room, 
and  here  the  king  and  his  company  had  taken  up 
their  quarters. 

In  the  middle  of  the  building,  on  the  stone 
floor,  a feeble  fire  had  been  kindled  from  brush- 
wood and  straw,  but  it  gave  out  more  smoke  than 
heat.  And  every  where  the  damp  fog  forced  its 
way  through  the  chinks  in  the  walls  and  through 
the  holes  in  the  roof,  where  it  drove  down  again 
the  slowly  rising,  yellowish-gray  smoke,  which, 
creeping  along  the  bare  walls  and  through  the 
opening  where  the  entrance-doors  had  once  stood, 
sought  other  means  of  exit.  In  the  semicircular 
space  forming  the  after-part  of  the  apsis  some 
coverlets  and  skins  were  spread  upon  the  marble 


416  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

pavement.  Here  sat  Gibamund,  hammering  on 
his  badly  hacked  shield,  while  Hilda  stitched 
together  the  rents  in  the  red  banner,  which  lay 
across  her  lap. 

“ Many  a dart  has  pierced  you,  old  battle-scarred 
banner ! And  this  gaping  rent  here — that  must 
have  been  made  by  a sword-cut.  But  you  shall 
still  hold  together  until  the  end.” 

“The  end  !”  exclaimed  Gibamund,  impatiently, 
finishing  with  a last  stroke  of  the  hammer  his 
work  on  the  shield.  “I  would  it  were  here!  I 
cannot  endure  this  continued  misery — your  mis- 
ery. For  a long  time  I have  urged  the  king  to 
make  an  end.  The  Moors  may  yield  themselves 
up,  but  let  us,  all  the  Vandals,  rush  together  upon 
the  enemy  and — He  would  not  let  me  finish.  -That 
would  be  self-murder  and  sin,’ he  replied.  ‘We 
must  patiently  endure  what  God  has  laid  upon  us  as 
a punishment.  If  it  be  his  will,  he  can  also  deliver 
us  from  this  place  and  bear  us  hence  on  the  wings 
of  his  angels.’  ” 

“The  end,  however,  is  approaching,  fast  ap- 
proaching. The  number  of  graves  yonder  on  the 
mountain-side  increases  daily.” 

“ Yes,  ever  longer  and  more  numerous  grow  the 
rows  of  the  cross-surmounted,  high-arched  burial- 
mounds  of  our  Vandals.” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS v 417 

“And  of  the  cairns  of  the  faithful  Moors,  encir- 
cled by  the  ring  of  black  flint.  Yesterday  even- 
ing we  buried  the  youthful  Gundoric,  the  last 
scion  of  the  proud  Gundings,  the  hope  and  com- 
fort of  his  valiant  father  Gundoftad.” 

“ Poor  boy  ! his  suffering  is  over.  I remember 
how  I used  to  see  the  child  in  Carthage,  dressed 
in  purple  silk  and  reclining  in  a shell-formed  wagon 
drawn  by  young  ostriches. 

“ Yesterday  the  king  brought  him,  as  he  lay  on 
his  wretched  bed  of  straw,  the  appetizing  bread 
which  he  had  begged  from  the  enemy.  The  boy 
began  to  devour  it  so  greedily  that  we  had  to  stop 
him.  We  turned  away  for  a moment — in  com- 
pany with  the  king  I was  bringing  water  for  the 
sick — when  a lamenting  and  angry  cry  summoned 
us  back.  A Moorish  youth,  who,  I suppose,  had 
detected  the  odor  of  the  bread,  had  sprung  in 
through  the  window  and  forcibly  wrested  the  mor- 
sel from  the  teeth  of  the  sick  child.  This  affected 
the  king  deeply.  ‘This  child  too  ! this  innocent 
one,  O terrible  God  ! 9 he  repeated  several  times. 
This  morning  I closed  the  eyes  of  the  dead  Gun- 
doric.M 

“ It  cannot  endure  much  longer.  The  people 
have  long  since  slaughtered  the  last  horse,  except 
Styx,” 


4 


41 8 THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

“ Styx  shall  not  be  slaughtered !”  cried  Hilda. 
“ It  was  he  that  saved  you  and  bore  you  away  from 
certain  death.” 

u It  was  you  that  saved  me>vith  your  Valkyr- 
like  ride,”  Gibamund  exclaimed  ; and,  happy  even 
in  his  suffering,  he  pressed  his  wife  to  his  breast 
and  kissed  tenderly  her  golden  hair,  her  forehead, 
and  her  eyes.  “ Hark  ! What  is  that  ?” 

“That  is  the' song  that  the  king  has  composed. 
He  sings  it  to  the  harp  which  Fara  sent  him.  Well 
for  you,  O Teia’s  gift,  that  you  are  not  compelled 
to  accompany  such  a song!”  she  said,  springing  up 
indignantly  and  putting  the  banner  aside.  “ Sooner 
would  I have  shattered  my  harp  on  the  nearest 
rock  than  loaned  it  for  such  a purpose  !” 

“ But  it  acts  like  a magic  charm  upon  the  Van- 
dals and  the  Moors.” 

“ They  do  not  understand  it — it  is  Latin,  you 
know.  He  has  rejected  the  alliteration,  too,  as 
being  heathenish,  as  having  the  mystic  power  of 
runes.  He  permits  no  one  to  speak  to  him  of  his 
last  battle-song.” 

“ It  is  true  they  scarcely  understand  it.  But 
when  they  behold  the  king  as  he  wanders  alone, 
like  one  enrapt  or  in  a dream,  over  the  rocks  and 
snow  of  the  mountain,  his  burning  eyes  half 
closed,  his  disordered  hair  falling  over  his  pale  and 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA HEALS.  419 

sorrowful  face,  his  tattered  royal  mantle  about 
his  shoulders,  his  harp  in  his  hand,  when  they  hear 
the  deep  pathos  of  his  voice  and  the  plaintive 
melody  of  the  song,  then  it  works  upon  them  like 
magic,  even  if  they  do  but  slightly  comprehend  its 
sense.  Hark!  there  it  is  again. ” 

And  nearer  and  nearer,  at  times  broken  by  the 
wind,  came  the  words  of  the  song,  accompanied 
by  the  music  of  the  chords : 

“ I am  mourning,  Vandal  people, 

For  thy  dark,  unhappy  fate, 

For  that  name  of  fallen  splendor 
Whose  renown  was  once  so  great. 

“ Gloriously  hast  thou  arisen, 

Like  a meteor,  from  the  sea; 

Sad  and  fameless  is  thy  setting 
In  the  night’s  eternity. 

“ Richest  heaps  of  dazzling  treasure 
Geiseric  to  Carthage  led  ; 

Now  that  great  king’s  last  successor, 
Hungering,  begs  his  foe  for  bread. 

41  Gods  fierce  anger  rests  upon  thee. 

Gone  thy  strength,  thy  former  trust. 

Leave  to  Goths  and  other  Germans 
Fame  and  honor;  they  are  dust.” 

“ I will  not  listen  to  it.  I cannot  bear  it,”  ex- 
claimed Hilda.  “ It  is  not  right  thus  to  inveigh 
against  what  alone  makes  life  worth  living.” 


420 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


And  now  the  plaintive  melody  seemed  close  at 
hand,  and  the  accompanying  words  were  dis- 
tinctly heard. 

“ All,  alas  ! was  sin  and  folly, 

All  thy  glory,  Vandal  race ! 

That  is  why  the  God  of  heaven 
Sends  thee  ruin  and  disgrace. 

“ Bend  thee,  bend  thee  in  submission, 

Geiseric’s  bruised  and  broken  line, 

Thankful,  kiss  the  rod  that  chastens, 

Knowing,  Lord,  that  rod  is  thine.” 

The  song  ceased.  Up  the  half-fallen  steps  of 
the  basilica  slowly  came  the#  tottering  form  of  the 
royal  singer,  his  left  arm,  which  dragged  after  it 
the  harp,  hanging  listlessly  at  his  side.  When  he 
reached  the  gray,  weather-beaten  pillars  at  the 
entrance,  he  laid  against  the  cold  stone  his  right 
arm  and  bent  down  upon  it  his  wearied  head. 

Just  then  a young  Moor  hastened  up  the  steps  ; 
with  a couple  of  bounds  he  was  at  the  top. 
Gibamund  and  Hilda  arose  in  surprise  and  went 
towards  him. 

“ I have  not  seen  you  move  so  nimbly  for  a 
long  time,  Sersaon,"  remarked  Gibamund. 

“Your  eye  flashes,’'  said  Hilda.  “You  bring 
good  news." 

The  king  raised  his  head  slowly  from  the  pillar, 
and  gazed  at  the  Moor  with  a mournful  look. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 


421 


“Yes,  white  queen,”  Sersaon  replied,  “The 
best  news — escape  !” 

“ Impossible!”  responded  Gelimer  in  a hopeless 
tone. 

“It  is  true,  O king.  Verus  here  will  confirm 
it.” 

With  slow  step,  but  unbroken  in  strength,  the 
priest  approached  the  spot.  He  appeared  even 
prouder  and  stronger  than  in  the  days  of  pros- 
perity. He  held  in  his  hand  an  arrow  and  a piece 
of  papyrus. 

“ Last  night,”  continued  the  Moor,  “ I was 
-stationed  on  guard  at  our  furthest  outpost 
towards  the  south.  Just  at  daybreak  I heard  the 
cry  of  an  ostrich  calling  for  its  mate.  I held  it 
for  deception,  for  the  bird  never  mounts  to  such 
heights,  and  besides  it  is  not  the  time  for  pairing. 
But  this  cry  is  our  signal  with  the  tribes  to  the 
south,  with  the  Soloans  who  live  over  towards  the 
coast. 

“ I listened  now  and  looked  sharply  around. 
And  sure  enough  I saw,  clinging  closely  to  the 
brown  wall  of  rock  and  scarcely  to  be  distin- 
guished from  it,  a Soloan. 

“ I answered  the  call  in  a low  tone.  Then  an 
arrow  fell  to  the  ground  near  me,  an  arrow  with- 
out a point ; and  in  the  hollow  reed  was  this  letter. 


422  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

I pulled  it  out— I myself  cannot  read — but  I took 
it  to  the  nearest  Vandals.  Two  of  them  read  it 
and  uttered  an  exclamation  of  joy.  Then  by 
chance  Verus  came  along.  He  wanted  to  tear  up 
the  papyrus,  and  forbade  us  to  speak  to  you  about 
it.  But  hunger  and  the  hope  of  safety  are 
stronger  than  his  command — ” 

Here  Verus  interrupted  the  Moor:  “ I con- 
sidered it  a trap,  a piece  of  treachery;  it  is  too 
improbable/' 

Gibamund  took  the  writing  from  him  and  read  : 
“ The  way  down  on  the  south,  where  the  cry  of 
the  ostrich  was  heard,  is  unguarded.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  it  is  impossible  to  descend  there. 
Climb  down,  one  by  one,  at  midnight.  We  are 
waiting  near  by  with  fresh  horses.  Theudis,  the 
king  of  the  Visigoths,  has  sent  us  gold  to  save 
you.  There  is  a small  ship  ready  for  you  on  the 
coast.  Hasten." 

“ There  is  still  fidelity  ! There  are  still  friends 
in  need!"  cried  Hilda,  as  with  tears  of  joy  she 
threw  herself  upon  her  husband’s  breast. 

The  king  drew  himself  up,  and  his  eye  lost  its 
melancholy,  hopeless  expression.  “ Do  you  see 
now  how  criminal  it  would  have  been  to  seek 
death?  This  is  the  helping  hand  which  God’s 
mercy  extends  towards  us.  Let  us  grasp  it!" 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FAJVEALS,  423 


XLIV. 

VERUS  advised,  in  order  to  lull  suspicion  for 
the  coming  night,  that  he  should  be  sent  to  pro- 
pose to  Fara  a conference  with  Gelimer  at  noon 
on  the  following  day,  on  the  northern  slope  of  the 
mountain,  at  which  interview  the  terms  offered  by 
Belisarius  could  be  further  discussed. 

After  some  compunctions  of  conscience,  the 
king  consented  to  this  stratagem. 

In  due  time  Verus  reported  that  Fara  was 
greatly  pleased  to  receive  such  a communication, 
and  that  he  would  wait  for  Gelimer. 

Notwithstanding  this  assurance,  the  besieged, 
who,  from  their  position  on  the  mountain,  had  an 
unobstructed  view,  kept  a sharp  watch  all  day 
upon  the  outposts  and  camp  of  the  enemy,  for  the 
purpose  of  detecting  any  movement  towards  the 
intended  place  of  descent,  or  any  indication  that 
the  plan  of  flight  or  the  hiding-place  of  the  Moors, 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  had  been  discovered. 

Nothing  of  the  kind  was  noticeable.  The  day 
passed  in  the  usual  way  among  the  Byzantines 
below.  The  guards  were  not  strengthened,  nor 
when  it  grew  dark  were  the  watch-fires  either  in- 
creased or  changed.  The  Vandals,  also,  kindled 
their  fires  as  usual  on  the  northern  side, 


424 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


Shortly  before  midnight  the  little  party  set  out. 
The  Moors  who  were  acquainted  with  the  way 
went  in  advance,  provided  with  ropes.  At  every 
step  the  fugitives  had  carefully  to  try  the  ground 
with  the  butt-end  of  their  spears,  to  determine 
whether  the  crumbling,  broken  surface  of  the 
mountain  afforded  a secure  foothold.  After  the 
Moors  came  Gibamund  and  Hilda.  The  latter  had 
folded  together  in  a small  compass  the  great  ban- 
ner of  Geiseric  and  fastened  it  to  the  handle  of  a 
spear  which  served  her  as  a mountain-staff.  Then 
followed  Gelimer,  behind  him  Verus  and  the  little 
band  of  the  remaining  Vandals. 

Thus  they  went  on  far  about  half  an  hour  along 
the  ridge  of  the  mountain,  until  they  reached  the 
southern  side,  where  the  steep  and  dangerous  de- 
scent began.  Every  step  was  taken  at  the  peril  of 
life,  for  they  did  not  dare  to  light  torches. 

Here  suddenly  the  king  turned  round.  O 
Verus/’  he  said,  “ death  may  now  be  very  near  to 
us.  Offer  a prayer — Why,  where?  is  Verus  ?” 

“ He  went  back  some  time  ago,”  replied  Mar- 
comer.  “ He  returned  for  a holy  relic  which  he 
had  forgotten.  He  commanded  us  to  proceed, 
and  said  that  he  would  overtake  us  at  the  next 
bend  in  the  way,  before  we  descend  through  the 
.gorge.” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 425 

The  king  stopped  for  a moment,  and  began  in  a 
low  voice  to  repeat  the  Lord’s  Prayer. 

“ There  is  no  time  to  lose,”  whispered  Sersaon 
the  Moor,  who  was  in  the  lead ; “we  must  pass  as 
quickly  as  possible  around  this  projecting  point— 
Ha!  look  ! Torches  ! treason  ! Rack,  back  to — ” 

He  could  not  finish,  for  an  arrow  pierced  his 
throat.  The  glare  of  torches  shone  dazzlingly  in 
the  eyes  of  the  fugitives  the  moment  they  turned 
the  projecting  wall  of  rock.  Weapons  gleamed  op- 
posite to  thegn,  and  in  front  of  the  ranks  of  the 
Herulians  came  a man  holding  a torch  and  light- 
ing with  it  the  rocks  ahead.  “ The  second  man 
yonder  is  the  king,”  he  cried;  “ take  him  alive!” 
And  he  advanced  a stepr*  further. 

“ Verus  !”  shrieked  Gelimer,  and  fell,  swooning, 
to  the  ground.  Two  Vandals  raised  him  and 
carried  him  back,  up  the  rocks. 

“ Forward,  there ! Storm  the  place !”  com- 
manded Fara  from  below. 

But  that  was  impossible.  No  army  could  take 
by  storm  a path  up  which  it  could  advance  only  in 
single  file,  and  even  then  only  provided  each  man 
steadied  himself  with  both  hands  against  the  per- 
pendicular wall  of  the  cliff. 

Fara  perceived  this  himself  as  he  viewed  the 
ascent  by  the  light  of  the  torches,  and  saw  Giba- 


426  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

mund  standing  with  raised  spear  on  the  last  broad 
ledge  that  afforded  secure  footing. 

“ Hard  luck  !”  he  cried.  “ But  we  have  closed 
yotir  last  loop-hole  of  escape.  Surrender  !” 

li  Never  !”  Gibamund  exclaimed,  and  hurled  his 
spear.  The  rnan  beside  Fara  fell. 

“ Shoot ! Quick  ! All  together  ! ” commanded 
the  Herulian,  angrily. 

Behind  the  Heruli  twenty  Hunnish  archers  were 
posted.  Their  bows  twanged  ; Gibamund  stag- 
gered and  fell  backwards. 

With  a piercing  cry  Hilda  caught  him  in  her 
arms.  Marcomer  stepped  forward  to  the  place 
where  Gibamund  had  stood  and  threateningly 
lifted  his  lance. 

“ Desist,”  Fara  commanded.  “ But  keep  the 
path  well  guarded.  To-morrow  or  the  day  after, 
at  the  latest,  the  priest  says  they  must  surrender.” 
Gelimer  had  recovered  from  his  swoon  just  in 
time  to  hear  Hilda’s  cry.  “ Now  Gibamund,  too, 
has  fallen,”  he  said  calmly.  “ It  is  over.” 

And  wearily  he  turned  back,  supporting  him- 
self by  his  spear,  A couple  of  Vandals  followed 
him. 

Hilda  sat  for  a long  time  in  silence,  the  head 
of  her  dead  husband  on  her  lap,  the  banner- 
wrapped  spear  resting  upon  her  shoulder.  She 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDAL  Sr  427 

did  not  weep,  but  in  the  darkness  gently  caressed 
with  her  hand  the  loved  face. 

Then  she  heard  a Vandal  who  had  come  back 
from  the  king  say  to  Marcomer  : “ That  was  the 
end.  Tam  to  announce  to  the  enemy  that  the 
king  will  surrender  to-morrow.” 

She  sprang  up  and  asked  a couple  of  the  men 
to  help  her  carry  the  body  back  to  the  top  of  the 
mountain.  There,  in  a little  pine-grove  in  front  of 
the  old  city,  was  a wooden  hut  which  formerly  had 
held  stores  of  various  sorts.  Now  only  the  wood 
cut  for  fuel  still  lay  there  in  a considerable  pile. 

In  this  hut  she  passed  the  night  alone  with  the 
dead.  But  when  the  day  dawned  she  fought  the 
king. 

She  found  him  in  the  basilica,  on  the  spot  where 
the  altar  had  formerly  stood — the  remains  of  a 
couple  of  steps  served  to  point  it  out.  Here  Geli- 
mer  had  fastened  in  a crevice  between  two  stones 
a cross  roughly  made  from  boughs.  He  lay  before 
this  upon  his  face,  embracing  the  cross  with  both 
arms. 

“Gelimer,  my  brother-in-law,”  she  said  abruptly 
and  sternly,  “ is  it  true?  Do  you  intend  to 
surrender?” 

He  did  not  answer. 

' She  shook  him  by  the  shoulder,  “ Will  you 


428  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

give  yourself  up  as  a prisoner,  King  of  the  Van- 
dals?’' she  asked  in  louder  tones.  “They  will  set 
you  up  for  a show,  lead  you  as  the  crowning  feat- 
ure of  their  triumph  through  the  streets  of  Byzan- 
tium, Will  you  still  further  disgrace  your  people 
— your  dead  people?” 

“Vanity,”  he  answered  monotonously.  “ Van- 
ity speaks  through  you.  What  you  are  thinking 
of  is  sin,  is  vanity,  is  pride.” 

“Why  now,  so  suddenly?  You  have  held  out 
for  months.  Why  yield  now?” 

“ Verus  !”  he  replied,  with  a deep  groan.  “ God 
has  abandoned  me,  my  protecting  spirit  has  be- 
trayed me.  Iam  condemned  upon  earth  and  for 
even  I cannot  end  it  otherwise.” 

“You  can.  Here,  Gelimer,  here  is  your  keen- 
edged  sword.”  She  stooped  and  drew  it  from  its 
sheath,  which,  together  with  the  belt,  lay  at  the 
foot  of  the  steps.  “The  dead  are  free.  There 
is  truth  in  the  words.” 

He  shook  his  head.  “ Vanity — proudness  of 
heart — heathenish  sin  ! I am  a Christian  ; I cam 
not  kill  myself.  I will  bear  my  cross — as  Christ 
bore  his — until  I break  down  under  it.” 

She  threw  the  sword  from  her,  and  it  fell  clang 
ing  upon  the  stones  at  his  feet.  Then  without  a 
word  of  farewell  she  turned  from  him. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  FA  HEALS.  429 

Where  are  you  going?  What  is  it  you  mean 
to  do?” 

“ Do  you  think  I loved  less  faithfully  and  pas- 
sionately than  that  warm-hearted  Grecian  girl?  I 
am  coming,  my  hero  and  my  husband  !” 

She  hurried  away  to  a building  formerly  the 
senate-house  of  Medenus,  but  afterwards  con- 
verted into  a stable.  At  one  time  a number  of 
horses  had  been  kept  in  it ; now  Styx,  the  black 
stallion,  was  left  there  alone.  She  took  him  by 
the  mane,  and  quietly  as  a lamb  the  faithful  and 
intelligent  animal  followed  her. 

She  led  him  to  the  door  of  the  wooden  hut. 
He  stopped  for  a moment  before  he  would  follow 
her  into  the  narrow  enclosure  that  was  feebly 
lighted  by  a burning  pine-knot,  held  in  an  iron 
clasp. 

“ Come,”  she  said  to  the  horse,  drawing  him 
gently  after  her.  “ It  is  better  for  you  also.  You 
have  long  been  sick  and  suffering.  Your  beauty, 
your  strength  is  gone.  And  after  the  service  you 
rendered  in  the  battle,  and  in  that  splendid  ride, 
the  enemy  shall  not  take  you  as  booty  and  tor- 
ment you  with  unworthy  drudgery.  How  does  it 
run  in  the  old  song? 

“ ‘ And  they  heaped  for  the  hero 
The  logs  for  a pyre. 


43°  the  last  of  the  vandals. 

And  the  death  of  the  master 
Was  shared  by  his  steed, 

Was  shared  by  the  wife  whom  he  loved. 

For  she  as  a widow 
Had  no  wish  to  live, 

Bearing  alone  and  in  sorrow 
The  burden  of  life. 

Then  she  led  the  horse  close  beside  the  pile  of 
wood  upon  which  she  had  laid  her  dead.  Feeling 
with  her  hand  for  the  spot  where  the  heart  beat, 
she  drew  Gibamund’s  sword  from  its  scabbard, 
and,  with  a powerful  thrust,  drove  it  into  the 
animal’s  body.  The  horse  fell  dead  at  once,  and 
she  threw  from  her  the  bloody  sword. 

“ O my  love  !”  she  cried,  “ O my  husband,  my 
life  ! Why  did  I never  fully  tell  you  how  deep 
and  fervent  was  my  love?  Ah,  I did  not  know 
myself  its  full  extent  until  now  ! But  even  now 
hear  it,  hear  it,  Gibamund  ! My  whole  heart,  my 
whole  life,  was  yours!  Thanks,  friend  Teia ! 
Gibamund,  my  husband,  I am  coming!” 

She  drew  the  keen,  dark  dagger  from  her  belt. 
With  a single  stroke  she  separated  the  banner  from 
the  spear  and  spread  it  over  the  body  ; it  was  so 
broad  tha^t  it  covered  also  the  space  beside  the 
dead.  Next  with  the  blazing  pine-knot  she  set 
fire  to  the  wood  at  the  base  of  the  pile,  and  bent 
over  and  kissed  for  the  last  time  the  pale,  cold 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  43  f 

lips.  Then  raising  on  high  the  dark  weapon,  she 
plunged  it  with  a sure  blow  into  her  proud,  coura- 
geous heart. 

She  sank  face  downward  upon  Gibamund’s 
body.  And  the  flames,  gently  curling  and  crack- 
ling, seized  first  upon  the  red  banner  that  lay  en- 
wrapping both  the  husband  and  the  wife. 

The  morning  wind  blew  freshly  in  through  the 
half-shut  door  and  through  the  chinks  in  the  logs, 
and  the  bright  flames  soon  burst  their  way  through 
the  roof. 


XLV. 

TO  CETHEGUS  FROM  PROCOPIUS. 

It  is  ended,  thanks  to  God,  or  to  whomso- 
ever else  the  thanks  are  properly  due  ! 

For  three  weary  months  we  lay  before  that 
stubborn  mountain.  It  is  now  March.  The 
nights  are  still  cool,  but  the  heat  of  .the  midday 
snn  has  become  almost  unbearable. 

An  attempt  at  escape  failed  through  treachery. 
Verus,  Gelimer’s  chancellor  and  most  intimate 
friend,  receives  the  reward  for  this  disgraceful 
deed.  Acting  on  the  priest's  information,  we 
searched  the  southern  side  of  the  mountains  for 
concealed  Soloans,  who  were  to  have  guided  the 
fugitives  to  the  sea,  but  we  found  only  the  tracks 


432  THE  LAST  OF  THE  V A HEALS, 

of  numerous  hoofs  which  must  have  passed  in  that 
direction.  However,  we  blocked  the  path  of 
escape.  Then  the  king  voluntarily  offered  to  sur- 
render without  further  delay. 

Fara  was  greatly  rejoiced.  He  would  have 
granted  any  condition  in  his  power  in  order  to 
bring  the  king  as  a captive  to  Belisarius,  who  has 
been  longing  even  more  impatiently  than  we  for 
the  termination  of  the  affair. 

At  the  entrance  of  the  gorge,  which  we  had 
never  been  able  to  force  our  way  through,  I re- 
ceived the  little  party  of  Vandals,  about  twenty  in 
number. 

The  Moors  also  came  down,  but  at  Gelimer’s 
request  Fara  at  once  released  them. 

These  Vandals — what  living  pictures  they  are 
of  wretchedness,  hunger,  privation,  sickness,  and 
grief ! 

I cannot  comprehend  how  they  were  able  to 
hold  out  and  continue  their  resistance,  for  they 
scarcely  had  strength  enough  left  to  carry  their 
weapons  ; they  seemed  really  glad  to  be  relieved 
of  them. 

But  when  I saw  and  spoke  with  Gelimer,  then, 
broken  as  he  now  is,  I could  understand  how  this 
man’s  influence  and  will  could  dominate  others 
and  compel  their  support  and  obedience. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  433 

I have  never  seen  his  like, — a monk,  a fanatic, 
and  yet  a kingly  hero. 

I begged  permission  from  Fara  to  take  him 
into  my  tent.  While  vve  can  with  difficulty 
restrain  the  others  from  immoderate  use  of  the 
food  of  which  they  have  been  so  long  deprived, 
he  voluntarily  continues  his  fast.  Indeed  it  was 
with  difficulty  Fara  persuaded  him  to  take  some 
wine.  The  Herulian  fears  lest  his  prisoner  may 
die  on  the  way,  before  he  can  deliver  him  to  Beli- 
sarius.  For  a long  time  he  refused  ; but  when  I 
suggested  that  perhaps  it  was  his  intention  to 
commit  suicide  in  this  way,  he  drank  at  once  and 
partook  of  some  bread. 

For  half  the  night  we  conversed  together.  He 
is  full  of  submissive  resignation  to  his  fate.  It  is 
touching  to  hear  him  attribute  all  his  misfortunes 
to  the  will  of  God.  Yet  I cannot  always  follow 
the  subtle  train  of  his  thoughts.  Thus  when  I 
expressed  my  opinion  that,  after  holding  out  so 
long,  the  failure  of  his  attempted  escape  had  per- 
suaded him  to  a sudden  surrender,  he  replied  with 
a mournful  smile:  “ Oh  no  ! Had  the  flight  been 
thwarted  from  some  other  cause,  I would  have 
held  out  until  death.  But  Verus,  Verus  !” 

He  paused  for  a moment,  and  then  added: 
“ You  will  not  understand  that.  But  I know  now 


434  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

that  God  has  abandoned  me,  if,  indeed,  he  ever 
looked  upon  me  with  favor.  I know  now  that  it 
was  a sin  to  have  loved  my  people  so  passion- 
ately, and  out  of  pride  in  the  Asding  blood  and 
our  old  glory  in  arms  to  have  refused  to  submit. 
It  is  our  duty  to  love  God  with  our  whole  hearts 
and  to  live  only  for  heaven.” 

Just  then  Fara  entered  the  tent,  not  a little  out 
of  temper.  “ You  have  not  kept  faith,  king,”  he 
complained.  “You  promised  to  surrender  all 
your  arms  and  military  insignia,  but  the  most  im- 
portant piece  of  booty,  the  great  banner  of  King 
Geiseric,  is  missing.  Belisarius  especially  charged 
me  to  secure  this.  He  saw  how  it  was  saved  in 
the  battle,  and  I myself  at  the  time  of  our  recent 
attack  noticed  it  in  a woman's  hands.  Our  people 
and  I myself,  guided  by  the  Vandals,  have 
searched  everywhere  for  it.  We  found  these 
golden  nails  lying  beside  some  bones  in  the  ashes 
of  a hut.  The  Vandals  say  that  the  nails  are  from 
the  spear-shaft  of  the  banner.  Did  you  burn  it?” 
“ No;  I would  not  have  grudged  it  to  you  and 
Belisarius.  A woman  did  that — Hilda.  She  slew 
herself.  May  God  forgive  her!” 

And  this  is  not  hypocrisy.  I confess  I do  not 
understand  this  way  of  looking  at  things,  yet 
these  remarkable  occurrences  force  into  my  mind 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 435 

thoughts  which  I would  gladly  avoid.  He  who 
has  once  tasted  philosophy  can  never  break  him- 
self of  the  habit  of  asking — Why  ? 

In  the  history  of  the  human  race  we  often  find 
„ successes  recorded  that  surpassed  all  expectation. 
But  whether  any  previous  enterprise  was  blessed 
with  good  fortune  comparable  to  ours  is,  at  least, 
doubtful. 

Belisarius  himself  is  amazed.  Five  thousand 
horsemen— for  our  infantry  scarcely  struck  a blow 
—strangers,  who,  after  they  had  landed,  possessed 
no  harbor,  no  fortress,  no  spot  of  ground  in  all 
Africa  except  that  upon  which  they  stood — five 
thousand  horsemen,  in  two  short  battles  against 
ten  times  their  numbers,  have  overthrown  the 
kingdom  of  the  fearful  Geiseric  and  taken  captive 
his  descendant,  whose  citadel  and  treasure  they 
have  seized ! 

It  is  true  the  generalship  of  Belisarius  and  the 
bravery  of  our  well-disciplined  army  contributed 
much  towards  the  result.  Something,  too,  is  due 
to  the  previously  plotted  and  finally  executed 
treason  of  Verus,  who,  we  now  learn,  had  been  all 
the  time  in  secret  correspondence  with  the  em- 
peror and  empress.  The  most  potent  of  all  the 
causes  at  work  was,  undoubtedly,  the  degeneracy 
of  the  people,  outside  of  the  royal  line.  And,  be- 


436  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 

sides,  the  inexplicable,  contradictory  nature  of  the 
king  himself  vitiated  his  own  best  efforts  and  those 
of  his  supporters.  But  all  these  combined  could 
not  have  accomplished  the  result  so  speedily,  had 
it  not  been  for  the  unexampled  good  fortune  which 
accompanied  us  from  the  beginning. 

And  this  good  fortune,  is  it  chance?  Oris  it 
God’s  work,  who  wished  to  punish  the  Vandals  for 
their  sins  and  those  of  their  ancestors  ?. 

It  may  be  so ; and  not  without  reverence  do  I 
bow  to  such  a dispensation.  But — and  here  the 
old  cynical  doubt  twitches  me,  the  doubt  that 
never  leaves  me — in  that  case  one  must  say  that 
God  is  not  over-choice  about  his  instruments.  For 
surely  this  Gelimer  and  his  brothers  are  not  sur- 
passed in  nobility  of  character  and  virtue  by  Jus- 
tinian, Theodora,  Belisarius,  or  perhaps  even,  O 
Cethegus,  by  your  friend,  the  writer  of  these  let- 
ters. 


XLVI. 

On  the  day  after  Gelimer’s  surrender,  the 
Byzantine  camp  was  broken  up,  and  the  march 
back  to  Carthage  begun. 

At  the  head  of  the  column  rode  Fara,  Procopius, 
and  the  other  leaders  upon  horses  and  camels. 
In  the  middle,  surrounded  by  the  foot-soldiers, 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS, 


437 


came  the  captive  Vandals,  their  hands  and  feet 
fettered  with  chains, -which  permitted  walking  or 
riding,  but  not  running.  The  Hunnish  cavalry 
brought  up  the  rear. 

Thus  the  march  back  proceeded  slowly,  halts 
being  made  at  night  for  rest ; it  required  fourteen 
days  to  traverse  the  ground  which  had  been 
covered  by  the  swift  pursuit  in  eight. 

Verus  rode  for  the  most  part  alone ; he  avoided 
the  Vandals,  and  the  Byzantines  avoided  him. 

On  the  second  day  after  leaving  the  mountain 
— Fara  and  Procopius  were  some  distance  in  ad- 
vance— the  priest  checked  his  horse  at  a bend  of 
the  way,  and  waited  until  the  prisoners  came  up. 
Many  a fettered  fist  was  raised  against  him, 
many  a curse  was  uttered,  but  he  gave  no  heed  to 
such  demonstrations.  Finally  Gelimer  appeared, 
tottering  along  on  foot,  and  holding  in  his  man- 
acled right  hand  a staff  which  terminated  in  a 
cross. 

Verus  pushed  his  horse  through  the  line  of 
guards  and  rode  up  close  to  him.  The  prisoner 
glanced  up. 

“ You,  Verus !”  he  said  with  a shudder. 

“ Yes,  I,  Verus.  I have  waited  for  you  here — 
for  you  and  for  this  hour, — for  this  hour,  so  long 
delayed,  but  come  at  last?  which  I have  longed 


438  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

for,  prayed  for,  worked  for  in  every  plan  and  act! 
For  this  hour  alone  I have  lived,  suffered,  strug- 
gled for  the  best  years  of  my  life.” 

“ And  why,  0 Verus,  why?  What  evil  have  I 
done  you  ?” 

Here  Verys  burst  into  a loud  laugh,  and  gave 
such  a jerk  to  the  bridle  that  his  horse  suddenly 
stopped. 

Gelimer  wras  startled  ; he  had  seldom  seen  this 
man  smile,  and  never  heard  him  laugh  aloud. 

“Why?  Ha,  ha!  You  ask  me  why?  Because — 
But  in  order  to  answer  this  question,  I must 
repeat  from  the  beginning  the  whole  story  of  the 
persecution  which  Geiseric  inflicted  upon  us  in 
this  land — upon  the  Romans,  the  Catholics.  Why? 
Because  I am  the  avenger,  the  requiter  of  that 
century-long  crime  called  the  Kingdom  of  the 
Vandals  in  Africa.  Hear  it,  ye  saints  in  heaven  ! 
This  man  stood  by  while  all  my  family  were  tor- 
tured horribly  to  death,  and  tie  asks  why  I have 
hated  and  ruined  him  and  his  people  !” 

“ I know— ” 

“You  know  nothing.  For  you  ask  me — why? 
You  heard,  you  would  say,  the  curse  of  my  dying 
mother.  But  this  you  do  not  know — for  you  had 
fallen  in  a swoon — that  I,  when  she  hurled  that 
curse  at  you,  tore  myself  loose  from  my  bonds. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  439 

from  my  martyr’s  stake,  that  I sprang  into  the 
flames  to  my  mother,  threw  my  arms  around  her, 
and  wished  to  share  her  death.  She  thrust  me 
back  from  the  fire  and  cried : 4 Live ! Live  to 
avenge  me  and  thy  people — and  fulfil  the  curse 
upon  this  one  and  all  his  race.’ 

“ A second  time  I sprang  forward,  clasped  the 
hand  of  my  dying  parent,  and  swore  to  execute 
her  commands.  Then  your  soldiers  tore  me  away ; 
I saw  her  sink  down  in  the  flames,  and  I fell 
senseless  to  the  ground. 

“ When  I came  to  myself  again  I was  no  longer 
a boy — I was  the  avenger ! I felt  nothing  but 
that  last  pressure  of  my  mother’s  hand  ; I saw 
nothing  but  the  death-look  on  her  face  ; I heard 
nothing  but  my  oath.  And  I abjured  my  faith — • 
apparently. 

“ And  you,  miserable  barbarians,  rendered  stupid 
by  your  own  arrogance,  supposed  I did  that  from 
cowardice,  from  fear  of  torture  and  the  flames ! 

“ How  often  in  former  years  have  I felt  your 
scarcely  concealed  contempt,  and  endured  it  with 
the  deadliest  hate,  with  a wrath  which  threatened 
to  consume  my  very  heart  ! 

“ Arrogant  brood  of  dim-sighted  fools!  You 
attributed  to  me  fear  and  cowardice,  in  your  esti- 
mation the  most  disgraceful  of  all  disgraces.  As 


440 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 


if  I had  not  suffered  more,  all  these  years,  tenfold 
more  than  the  death  by  fire  in  subduing  my  own 
feelings,  in  enduring  without  a word  of  explana- 
tion the  abhorrence  of  the  Catholics  at  my  apos- 
tasy, in  holding  myself  under  the  strictest  dis- 
cipline, in  smothering  in  hate  and  scorn  every  im- 
pulse of  my  heart,  in  outwardly  turning  myself 
into  stone,  while  my  whole  inner  being  glowed 
with  a consuming  fire  ! I even  forced  myself  to 
serve  you,  to  perform  as  your  priest  the  sacri- 
legious service  of  your  church,  to  endure  your  in- 
tolerable boasting.  Oh,  how  I hate  you  !”  And 
he  struck  with  his  whip  the  captive  king,  who  re- 
ceived the  blow  but  did  not  seem  to  feel  it. 
“You  barbarians — what  were  you  a few  genera- 
tions ago  but  cattle-thieves  on  the  outskirts  of 
our  empire,  slaughtered  by  us  by  thousands,  re- 
duced to  slavery,  thrown  as  food  to  wild  beasts, 
naked,  hungry  beggars,  who  thankfully  licked  up 
the  crumbs  that  Roman  generosity  threw  to  you  ? 
Away  with  you  all,  you  beasts,  whose  animal 
strength  alone,  under  God's  permission, — as  a 
punishment  for  our  sins, — has  enabled  you  to  break 
your  way  into  the  Roman  Empire  ! Away  with 
you,  Isay!"  And  he  lifted  his  hand  again  to 
strike,  but  as  he  saw  the  eyes  of  one  of  the  Heru- 
lian  guards  turned  threateningly  upon  him,  he 
disconcertedly  let  fall  his  arm. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VA NDALS. 


441 


Gelimer  had  remained  silent,  with  only  an  oc- 
casional sigh.  Now,  however,  he  said  gently: 
“ And  your  conscience?  Has  it  never  troubled 
you?  Since  that  encounter  with  the  lion,  I — I 
trusted  you  so  implicitly,  I gave  you  my  whole 
heart.  You  were  my  confessor — did  you  feel  no 
shame  at  such  deceit  ?” 

For  a moment  a flush  suffused  the  pale  cheeks 
of  the  priest,  but  it  was  as  transient  as  summer 
lightning.  Then  he  answered  : “Yes,  sometimes, 
in  the  beginning — so  foolish  was  my  heart.  But,” 
he  continued  grimly,  “ I always  overcame  this  at- 
tack of  weakness  when  I said  to  myself,  ‘ They 
consider  you  a man  so  contemptible  that  out  of 
cowardice,  in  the  very  presence  of  your  dead,  you 
forswore  your  faith.  These  insolent,  these  im- 
measurably stupid  barbarians — yet  it  is  more 
vain-glorious  pride  than  stupidity — actually  sup- 
pose that  you,  the  son  of  these  parents,  can  really 
be  devoted  to  such  masters,  can  serve  them  and 
their  brutal  and  tyrannical  power,  in  forgetfulness 
of  your  own  martyrs.  It  is  thus  they  look  upon 
you,  thus  they  treat  you — you  are  to  them  an  ob- 
ject  of  inexpressible  contempt.  Revenge  your- 
self, revenge  yourself  for  this  insufferable  effron- 
tery ! ’ Oh,  hate  also  is  a pleasure — the  hate  of  a 
people  against  a people ! And  hated  you  Ger- 


442  the  last  of  the  vandals, , 

mans  shall  be  as  long  as  a^drop  of  blood  flows  in 
the  veins  of  other  nations,  hated  until  death,  un- 
til you  are  crushed  under  foot — ” 

And  with  his  fist  he  struck  the  bare  head  of 
the  king,  who  was  tottering  along  beside  him. 

Gelimer  neither  started  nor  looked  up. 

“What  are  you  muttering ?”  asked  the  priest, 
bending  over  towards  him. 

“ I was  praying — ‘ as  we  forgive  those  who  have 
trespassed  against  us/  But,  perhaps,  even  that  is 
over-estimation  of  self,  is  a sin.  It  may  be  you 
have  not  trespassed  against  me.  It  may  be  that 
you  are  really  the  angel,” — he  shuddered,  however, 
at  the  thought, — whom  God  has  sent  me,  not  for 
my  protection,  as  in  my  vanity  I supposed,  but 
for  my  punishment—” 

“ I certainly  never  was  your  good  angel,”  laughed 
the  priest. 

“But — -if  it  is  permitted  to  ask — ” 

“ Oh  yes ; ask.  I wish  to  enjoy  this  hour  to 
the  full.” 

“ If  you  hated  me  so  bitterly,  if  you  wished  to 
avenge  your  mother  on  me,  why  have  you  played 
this  game  of  deceit  for  so  many  years  ? You  have 
had  frequent  opportunities  to  kill  me — you  might 
have  let  me  perish  beside  the  lion.  Why  have 
you  acted  as  you  did?” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  443 

“ Have  you  not — have  you  still  not  compre- 
hended ? Fool!  It  is  true  I hated  you,  but  I 
hated  still  more  your  people.  To  destroy  you — 
oh  yes  ! the  thought  was  pleasant ! And  hard 
enough  I had  to  struggle  with  my  hate,  that  I 
might  not  kill  you  instead  of  the  lion.  I hesi- 
tated— 

“ I saw  that.” 

0 

“ But  I felt  that  here,  in  this  man,  lives  the  soul 
of  the  Vandal  nation.  To  place  him  upon  the 
throne  and  then  control  him,  that  means  to  shape 
the  destiny  of  his  people,  If  I kill  him  now, 
I drive  Hilderic  to  a secret  agreement  with  Byzan- 
tium, while  Zaro,  Gibamund,  and  other  warlike 
men  may  make  a long  resistance.  But  if  this  man 
becomes  king,  this  man  who,  above  all  others,  has 
power  to  save  his  people,  and  then  as  king  is  sub- 
ject to  my  will,  the  Vandal  nation  is  lost  beyond 
a shadow  of  doubt.  To  murder  him  alone — that 
would  be  nothing.  But  through  him  to  ruin  and 
destroy  his  people — ” 

A groan  broke  from  Gelimer.  He  staggered 
like  a man  struck  with  some  mortal  sickness,  and 
to  sustain  himself  clutched  involuntarily  at  the 
horse's  bridle. 

Verus  thrust  the  hand  away.  Gelimer  stumbled 
and  fell  down  upon  the  sand  ; but  he  arose  at 
once  and  proceeded  on  his  way. 


444 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  V A HEALS. 


“Did  the  priest  there  strike  you ?”  asked  the 
Herulian,  angrily. 

“ No,  friend.” 

Verus  continued:  “ It  was  necessary  that  Hil- 
deric  should  vacate  the  throne.  He  demanded 
all  sorts  of  conditions  on  behalf  of  the  Vandals, 
and  Justinian  was  disposed  to  grant  them.  My 
purpose  was,  not  to  bring  Gelimer  and  the  Vandals 
under  subjection  to  Justinian,  but  utterly  to  de- 
stroy them.  Your  brother  discovered  my  inter- 
course with  Puden.tius — had  I been  searched  then, 
the  letter  of  Pudentius  would  have  been  found, 
and  all  would  have  been  lost.  Instead  of  that  I 
betrayed  the  Tripolitan’s  hiding-place,  but  I knew 
that  he  was  mounted  on  my  best  courser  and  al- 
ready outside  the  gates.  The  king  and  you  both 
fell  into  my  trap.  I rejoiced  to  see  how  ready 
you  were  to  believe  in  Hilderic’s  guilt,  because 
you  wished  it  true,  because  of  your  secret  eager- 
ness for  the  crown.  Even  if  you  dethroned 
Hilderic  in  good  faith,  how  alert  you  were,  how 
zealous  to  secure  the  crown  for  yourself ! I stood 
by,  I saw  how- you  struck  down  Hoamer,  who  was 
in  the  right  when  he  denied  that  Hilderic  had  any 
murderous  intentions.  You  called  the  combat  a 
judgment  of  God.  You  deemed  that  you  were 
Serving  God’s  justice,  when  you  served  only  your 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  445 

own  ambition  and,  through  that, — me.  It  was 
Satan,  not  God,  who  gave  you  the  strength  of 
arm  to  slay  Hoamer.  It  was  a devil’s  judgment 
— a victory  of  hell,  not  a sentence  of  God.  Then 
I became  your  chancellor,  and  that  meant  your 
destroyer.  I broke  off  openly  with  the  emperor, 
but  I kept  up  a secret  correspondence  with  the 
empress.  I sent  your  fleet  away  to  Sardinia,  al- 
though some  days  before  I had  heard  of  the  sail- 
ing of  Belisarius. 

“ After  the  defeat  at  Decimum  I advised  that 
you  and  the  army  should  shut  yourselves  up  in 
Carthage.  The  game  would  have  ended  six 
months  sooner.  In  this  alone  you  did  not  follow 
my  advice.  Then  I had  to  prevent  Hilderic  from 
justifying  himself  before  you.  I took  the  letter  of 
warning  out  of  the  drawer  before  I permitted  Hil- 
deric to  search  for  it.  No  scion  of  Geiseric’s  race 
could  I permit  to  remain  alive,  for  after  the  victory 
of  Belisarius  Justinian  would  have  honorably  re- 
ceived your  captives.  Therefore  I had  them  put 
to  death  by  my  freedman,  whose  escape  I managed. 
But  you — and  I had  long  reserved  this  for  the 
hour  when  your  strength  was  at  its  best,  for  the 
possibility  of  some  threatening  danger  to  my 
plans — you  I crushed  in  the  very  nick  of  time  by 
the  revelation  that  you  had  dethroned  and  mur- 


446  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

dered  Hilderic  without  cause.  Still  my  oath  was 
not  fulfilled  until  I saw  you  in  chains,  the  captive 
of  Justinian.  It  was  simply,  therefore,  to  prevent 
your  escape  that  I shared  all  the  want  and  misery 
of  these  three  months.  Letters  had  come  from 
King  Theudis  immediately  after  the  fight  at  De- 
cimum,  offering  you  a means  of  retreat  by  the 
help  of  the  coast  tribes  and  Visigothic  ships.  You 
never  saw  the  letters,  for  I destroyed  them. 

“Not  until  safety  really  beckoned  to  you,  not 
until  her  hand  was  really  stretched  out  towards 
you,  did  I at  length  throw  off  the  mask  and  openly 
strangle  your  last  hope.  Now  in  the  Hippodrome 
at  Byzantium  I shall  see  you  kiss  Justinian’s  feet 
— that  is  the  culmination  of  my  mother’s  curse, 
my  own  oath,  and  my  people’s  revenge.” 

He  ceased  ; his  countenance  glowed  with  ex- 
citement, his  eyes  shot  fiery  glances  of  triumphant 
hate  down  at  the  prisoner. 

Gelimer  bent  down  and  kissed  the  priest’s  shoe, 
as  it  rested  in  the  stirrup.  “You,  then,  wrere  the 
rod  with  which  God  chastened  and  still  chastens 
me.  I thank  God  and  you  for  every  deserved 
blow,  just  as  I thanked  God  and  you  when  I took 
you  for  my  guardian  spirit.  And  if,  in  acting  as 
you  have  done,  you  have  sinned  against  me  and 
my  people — that  is  not  for  me  to  say — then  may 
God  pardon  you,  as  I myself  fully  do  !” 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS,  447 

XLVII. 

TO  CETHEGUS  FROM  PROCOPIUS. 

The  captive  king  traversed  the  entire  way  back 
to  Carthage  on  foot,  positively  declining  either 
horse  or  camel.  He  journeyed  on  in  silence, 
except  that  from  time  to  time  he  prayed  aloud  in 
Latin  ; but  never  in  the  Vandal  tongue. 

Fara  offered  him  suitable  clothing  instead  of  the 
torn  and  tattered  purple  mantle  which  he  wore. 
The  prisoner  thanked  him  and  asked  for  a peni- 
tential belt  with  sharp  pricks  upon  the  inner  side, 
such  as  the  hermits  of  the  desert  are  accustomed 
to  use.  We  did  not  have  with  us  such  a senseless 
article,  and  besides  Fara  strongly  disapproved  of 
the  request.  So  the  “ tyrant”  had  to  fashion  one 
for  himself  out  of  an  old  bridle  which  he  found, 
and  from  the  sharp  thorns  of  the  desert  acacia. 

He  broke  down  right  before  the  gate  of  his 
royal  city,  and  fell  upon  his  face  in  the  sand  of 
the  road.  Verus  halted  behind  him,  hesitated 
for  a moment,  and  then  raised  his  foot.  I believe 
he  would  have  set  it  upon  the  king’s  neck,  had  not 
Fara,  who  seemed  to  entertain  the  same  suspicion, 
jerked  the  priest  away  with  no  gentle  hand,  and 
with  some  words  of  sympathy  raised  the  fallen 
man. 


448  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 

Immediately  within  the  Numidian  gate,  upon  a 
spacious  open  place  in  the  suburb  Atlas,  Belisa- 
rius  had  drawn  up  the  greater  part  of  his  troops, 
filling  three  sides  of  the  square ; the  fourth,  that 
towards  the  gate,  remained  unoccupied. 

Just  opposite  the  gate,  on  a raised  seat,  our 
general  sat  enthroned,  in  the  full  splendor  of  his 
armor.  Above  his  head  rose  the  imperial  stand- 
ard ; at  his  feet  lay  the  scarlet  flags  and  banners 
of  the  Vandals,  many  dozens  of  which  we  had 
captured.  Only  their  great  royal  banner,  which 
we  have  never  been  able  to  find,  was  wanting. 

Around  Belisarius  stood  the  leaders  of  his 
victorious  troops  and  many  bishops  and  priests  ; 
also  many  senators  and  distinguished  citizens  of 
Carthage  and  other  towns,  who  within  the  last 
few  months  have  returned  from  banishment  or 
flight, — among  them  the  rejoicing  Pudentius  of 
Tripolis  and  his  son. 

To  the  left  of  Belisarius  lay,  spread  out  at  his 
feet  on  purple  cloths,  the  royal  hoard  of  the  Van- 
dals, heaped  up  in  artistically  desjgned  disorder  : 
many  chairs  of  solid  gold ; the  chariot  of  the 
Vandal  queens;  an  inestimable  quantity  of  jew- 
elry of  every  sort ; the  entire  silver  table-service  of 
the  king,  and  all  the  other  appointments  of  the 
palace ; weapons  innumerable,  including  those 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  449 

from  the  armories  of  Geiseric  ; also  old  Roman 
battle-standards,  now  at  last  set  free  from  a cap- 
tivity of  many  decades.  There  were  arms  enough 
with  which,  in  the  hands  of  valiant  men,  to  con- 
quer the  world  ; there  were  Roman  helmets  with 
proudly  waving  crests,  German  boar  and  buffalo 
casques,  Moorish  shields  covered  with  panther- 
skins,  Moorish  head-bands  with  nodding  ostrich- 
feathers,  doublets  made  from  the  hide  of  the 
crocodile — but  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  describe 
the  variety  and  magnificence  of  the  spoil. 

To  the  right  of  Belisarius  stood  the  most  dis- 
tinguished of  the  captives,  their  hands  bound 
behind  their  backs.  Besides  the  men  there  were 
many  of  the  Vandal  women,  handsome  in  features 
and  voluptuous  in  form.  The  whole  picture  was 
enclosed,  as  if  in  a metallic  frame,  by  the  squad- 
rons of  our  cavalry  and  the  thick  masses  of  our 
infantry.  What  with  the  neighing  of  the  horses, 
the  waving  of  the  crests,  the  clang  and  the  glitter 
of  the  arms,  it  was  a glorious  spectacle,  that 
thrilled  the  heart  of  every  man  who  did  not  gaze 
upon  it  as  one  of  the  conquered. 

Behind  our  soldiers  the  populace  of  Carthage 
pressed  eagerly  forward,  reminded,  however,  by 
many  a blow  from  the  shaft  of  a spear  that  they 
had  no  part,  except  that  of  spectators,  in  this 


450  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

celebration  of  their  deliverance  and  that  of  Africa. 
This  whole  performance  was,  of  course,  only  the 
prologue  to  the  triumph  in  the  Hippodrome  at 
Byzantium  which  the  emperor  has  already  prom- 
ised to  Belisarius. 

Meantime  our  little  procession  halted  within 
the  arched  gateway,  waiting  for  the  appointed 
signal. 

At  a blast  of  the  trumpets  Fara  and  I,  accom 
panied  by  some  subordinate  officers  and  thirty- 
Herulians,  rode  forward  into  the  square  and  halted 
before  the  seat  of  Belisarius.  He  arose,  com- 
manded us  to  dismount,  embraced  and  kissed 
Fara,  and  hung  around  his  neck  a great  plate  of 
gold  as  a prize  of  victory  for  the  capture  of  a 
crowned  king.  As  for  me,  he  pressed  my  hand 
and  bade  me  be  his  companion  in  all  his  future 
campaigns.  That  is  for  me  the  greatest  possible 
reward,  for  I love  this  man  with  the  courage  of  a 
lion  and  the  heart  of  a child. 

At  his  direction  we  stationed  ourselves  to  the 
right  and  the  left  of  his  throne. 

Then  came  two  trumpet-peals,  and  Verus  ad- 
vanced through  the  gate  into  the  square.  He 
was  attired  in  the  rich  ceremonial  vestments  of 
the  Catholic  priesthood.  I noticed  also  that  his 
narrow  Arian  tonsure  had  been  changed  into 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS . 45 1 

the  broader  Catholic  style.  He  came  forward 
proudly,  with  head  borne  haughtily  erect  and 
with  a look  on  his  face  that  seemed  to  say, 
“ Without  me  you  would  not  be  here,  vain- 
glorious soldiers !”  That,  however,  is  not  entirely 
true ; We  should  undoubtedly  have  conquered 
without  him,  although  it  would  have  been  harder 
and  more  tedious.  And  just  so  far  as  his  claims 
have  any  justification,  to  that  very  extent  they 
vex  my  friend  Belisariiis. 

Our  general  knit  his  brow  and  cast  upon  the 
approaching  priest  a look  of  contempt,  which 
caused  the  latter  to  lower  his  eyes,  as,  with  a 
haughty  mien,  he  bowed  in  salutation. 

“ I have  a letter  of  the  emperor  to  read  to  you, 
priest,”  spoke  Belisarius.  And  taking  from  an  at- 
tendant a purple  roll  of  papyrus,  he  kissed  it  and 
read  : 

“‘Imperator  Caesar  Flavius  Justinianus  Augus- 
tus, the  pious,  fortunate,  and  illustrious  ruler 
and  general,  conqueror  of  the  Allematini,  Franks. 
Germans,  Antians,  Alani,  Persians,  and  now  also 
of  the  Vandals,  the  Moors,  and  of  Africa,  to  Verus 
the  Archdeacon  : 

“‘You  have  preferred  to  carry  on  with  my 
saintly  consort,  the  empress,  rather  than  with  my- 
self, a secret  correspondence  in  regard  to  the  over- 


452  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

throw  of  the  tyrant  by  our  arms  and  with  the  aid 
of  God.  She  promised,  in  case  we  should  con- 
quer, to  request  from  me  the  reward  which  you 
desire.  Theodora  does  not  ask  in  vain  from  Jus- 
tinian. Since  you  have  established  the  fact  that 
your  acceptance  of  the  heretic  belief  was  mere 
pretence,  that  in  your  heart  you  remained  a stead- 
fast adherent  of  the  true  faith,  and  were  recog- 
nized as  such  by  your  Catholic  confessor,  who  was 
empowered  to  grant  you  a dispensation  for  the 
outward  appearance  of  this  sin,  your  standing  as 
an  orthodox  priest  cannot  be  questioned.  There- 
fore, I command  Belisarius  by  virtue  of  this  letter 
to  proclaim  you  forthwith  the  Catholic  Bishop  of 
Carthage  ’ — hear,  all  ye  Carthaginians  and  Romans, 
I proclaim,  in  the  name  of  the  emperor,  that  Verus 
is  the  Catholic  Bishop  of  Carthage — 4 to  set  upon 
your  head  the  bishop’s  mitre  and  to  place  in  your 
hand  the  bishop’s  staff.’  Kneel  down,  Bishop.” 

Verus  hesitated.  It  seemed  as  if  he  would 
much  rather  receive  the  gold-embroidered  mitre 
standing ; but  Belisarius  held  it  down  so  low,  so 
close  to  his  own  knees,  that  no  other  course  re- 
mained to  the  priest  except  to  submit  to  necessity 
if  he  wished  his  head  to  be  adorned  with  the  cov- 
eted honor. 

As  soon,  however,  as  he  had  received  it,  he 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  453 

sprang  to  his  feet.  Then  Belisarius  placed  the 
richly  gilded  shepherd’s  staff  in  his  hand. 

With  swelling  heart  and  head  erect  the  bishop 
started  to  pass  to  the  right  of  the  throne.  But 
Belisarius  said  : “ Stay,  most  holy  man  ! I have 
not  yet  finished  the  emperor’s  letter.”  And  he 
read  on: 

“ ‘ Thus  you  obtain  the  stipulated  reward.  But 
Theodora,  as  you  have  already  learned,  does  not 
ask  in  vain  from  Justinian.  Therefore  I fulfil  also 
her  second  request. 

“ ‘ In  her  opinion  a man  so  bold  and  crafty 
would  be  altogether  too  dangerous  as  bishop  of 
Carthage.  You  might  serve  your  new  master  as 
you  did  the  old.  Therefore  she  requests  me  that 
Belisarius,  by  virtue  of  this  command,  shall  have 
you  seized ’—here,  at  a motion  from  Belisarius, 
Fara,  evidently  much  rejoiced,  laid  his  mailed 
hand  upon  the  shoulder  of  the  priest,  who  had 
turned  deathly  pale — ‘ for  you  are  banished  for  life 
to  Martyropolis,  on  the  Tigris,  on  the  Persian 
frontier,  as  far  as  possible  from  Carthage.  In  your 
place,  as  your  vicarius,  the  confessor  of  the  em- 
press, whom  she  wishes  removed  from  Byzantium, 
will  perform  the  duties  of  the  bishop,  with  the 
approval  of  the  Holy  Father  at  Rome.  At  Mar- 
tyropolis there  are  mines  for  criminals.  You  will 


454  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

care  for  the  souls  of  these  exiles  six  hours  each 
day*  And  in  order  that  you  may  better  under- 
stand their  spiritual  condition,  for  six  other  hours 
you  will  share  their  labor.’  Away  with  him !” 

Verus  attempted  to  reply,  but  once  more  the 
trumpets  pealed,  and  before  the  third  blast  died 
away  the  priest  had  been  led  off  by  six  Thracians, 
and  had  disappeared  down  the  steeet  which  ran 
towards  the  harbor. 

“ Now  summon  Gelimer,  the  king  of  the  Van- 
dals/’ Belisarius  called  out  in  a loud  voice. 

Gelimer  came  forward  from  the  gate  upon  the 
square,  his  hands  fettered  with  a golden  chain. 
One  of  the  many  dentated  golden  crowns  found  in 
the  royal  hoard  had  been  pressed  upon  his  long, 
disordered  hair,  and  over  his  old,  torn  purple 
mantle  and  penitential  belt  a new  and  magnificent 
robe  of  the  same  regal  material  had  been  thrown 
He  stood  passive,  listless,  silent,  while  being  thus 
arrayed ; only  against  the  crown  he  at  first  made  a 
gesture  of  protest,  but  a moment  after  submitted 
with  the  low  murmur,  "Well,  then,  my  crown  of 
thorns !” 

Just  as  listless  and  silent,  like  a moving  corpse, 
he  now  advanced  across  the  open  place,  a distance 
of  perhaps  three  hundred  feet,  and  approached 
Belisarius. 


THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS.  455 

At  the  mention  of  his  name  a loud  whisper, 
broken  by  occasional  exclamations,  had  passed 
along  the  ranks,  but  now  when  they  saw  him  a 
silence  fell  upon  all  the  thousands  present ; mock- 
cry,  triumph,  curiosity,  revenge,  sympathy,  all 
failed  to  find  expression,  all  were  hushed  before 
the  majesty  of  his  appearance,  the  majesty  of  un- 
utterable sorrow. 

No  other  prisoner,  not  even  a guard,  accompa- 
nied the  captive  king;  he  crossed  the  square  entirely 
alone.  His  eyes,  shaded  by  their  long  lashes  and 
deeply  sunken  in  their  sockets,  were  fixed  upon 
the  ground ; deeply  sunken,  too,  were  his  pale 
cheeks ; the  gaunt  fingers  of  his  right  hand  were 
clasped  about  a small  wooden  cross.  Blood  trickled 
from  his  girdle  and  fell  slowly  in  drops  upon  the 
white  sand  as  he  moved  along. 

Not  a word  was  spoken.  A death-like  stillness 
pervaded  the  whole  broad  space ; the  people 
seemed  almost  to  hold  their  breath  until  the  un- 
fortunate monarch  stood  before  Belisarius. 

Shocked  at  the  sight  and  deeply  moved,  even 
the  conqueror  was  at  a loss  for  words.  Im- 
pulsively he  held  out  his  hand  to  the  man  standing 
before  him.  Gelimer  raised  his  great,  mournful 
eyes,  beheld  Belisarius  in  all  the  splendor  of 
gold  and  arms,  glanced  hastily  around  the  three 


456  THE  LAST  OF  THE  VANDALS. 

sides  of  the  square,  saw  the  brilliant  display  of 
martial  pomp,  saw  the  standard  of  the  victor 
waving  above  his  head,  the  banners  of  tne  Vandals 
and  their  royal  hoard  spread  out  at  his  feet,  and, 
with  a wild,  convulsive  movement,  dropping  his 
cross,  he  clasped  his  hands,  fettered  as  they  were 
by  the  golden  chain,  high  above  his  head,  while  a 
shrill  and  horrible  laugh  burst  from  him.  Then 
with  the  cry,  “ Vanity!  vanity!  all  is  vanity !”  he 
threw  himself  upon  his  face  down  in  the  sand, 
right  at  the  feet  of  Belisarius. 

“ Is  this  sickness?”  asked  our  general  in  a low 
voice. 

“ Oh  no,”  I replied  in  the  same  tone.  “ It  is 
despair — or,  possibly,  excessive  piety.  He  deems 
life  not  worth  the  living,  and  all  that  is  human,  all 
that  is  earthly,  even  kindred  and  people,  nothing 
but  vanity,  emptiness,  sin.  Is  that,  perhaps,  to  be 
the  ultimate  conclusion  reached  by  our  Christian 
faith  ?” 

“No;  that  is  insanity!”  exclaimed  Beli§arius 
the  hero.  “Forward,  my  brave  soldiers!  Let  the 
trumpet  once  more  sound — the  Roman  trumpet, 
whose  blast  rings  through  the  world.  To  the 
harbor ! On  board ! And  to  our  triumph  in 
Byzantium !” 


THE  END. 


